Friday Feed
16-17 Sawnee Tech News Vol. 4
Communication
The ability to articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively is a critical skill for our students. We want to help them learn how to communicate their own thoughts, as well as draw meaning from outside communication. These technology tools are just a few to help facilitate communication in your classroom.
Discussion Tab with Google Sheets
Alice Keeler is a Google classroom guru! She posted a great way to use Google Sheets as a backchannel tool. What is backchanneling? Backchanneling is a way to conduct a real-time online conversation alongside a primary activity. It's a way to give all students a voice in your classroom and encourages even your shy kids to participate. You may use TodaysMeet, Socrative's unlimited response tool, or the conference feature in itslearning. Alice Keeler's Discussion tab template is just one more way. Pick a tool that works for you and your students.
Mentimeter
Mentimeter is an interactive presentation tool that allows for communication and collaboration while teaching. You can sign up with your FCSS Google account to get started today. Choose from a variety of question types, such as, multiple choice, word clouds, open ended, scales, etc. Teachers create presentations and then share a code for students to join at www.menti.com. This tool can immediately make a whole-group lesson more engaging and authentic for students. Since it's web-based it will work with any device. Vote here to share what Thanksgiving means to you. Then, see Sawnee's results here!
Google Translate
Amber Lee shared a tutorial for using Google Translate. This tool can bridge the communication gap for students and parents.
About the Friday Feed
Betsy Paul is an Instructional Technology Specialist at Sawnee Elementary in Cumming, GA. This flyer is created to share instructional technology news and tools with teachers at Sawnee Elementary, but feel free to use and share with others.
Twitter: @BetCPaul