Tech Kickoff 2014!
Start your year off by checking out any of these strategies!
Communicate, assess, and collaborate like a tech-boss!
Here are a few simple strategies that I've found incredibly useful when it comes to reaching out to students and parents, gamifying instruction, and giving students an online space for instructional needs. Think of an area here that you want to use at the start of this new school year to embed technology into teaching and learning.
Are you looking to...
...better communicate with your students and parents in a simple yet efficient way?
Use: Remind (formerly Remind 101)
- Site: https://www.remind.com/
- What is it? Similar to those great “20% off” one-way texts you get from your favorite place to shop at, this is a great messaging app you can use to text your class. It's super easy, free and doesn't reveal your phone number to students/parents. I’ve used it to send out announcements, reminders, and encouragement. It would be great to have your parents sign up to receive your alerts during curriculum night!
- Tech Needed: Any device with a web browser & iOS app; alerts sent to student/parent phone via text or email inbox.
...give students safe access to communicate anytime, anywhere in a dashboard that allows them to chat, share files, take notes, and keep track of important tasks?
Use: 81 Dash
- Site: http://81dash.com/
- What is it? Remember Today's Meet? This site is that... but better. Created by teachers for teachers, 81Dash is a safe solution for providing students with a safe online chat environment that can remain completely monitored by the teacher. Add questions, materials, links, and even a list of tasks (known as Dash Tasks). Keep the chat open for a day, week, month, or year with the ability to download transcripts of the students' chat at any time.
- Tech Needed: Any device with a web browser & iOS app.
...develop engaging and real-time game-based quizzes, discussions, and even surveys?
Use: Kahoot
- Site: http://getkahoot.com
- What is it? An incredible new service for delivering online quizzes and surveys to your students (students can create these, too… what a great way to have them practice developing meaningful questions!). This game-based classroom response system is fast, intuitive, and fun.
- Tech Needed: Any device with a web browser. Also available to participants as an iOS app.
...go paperless in your classroom in a way that is simple but effective and easy to manage?
Use: Google Classroom
- What is it? Classroom was designed to help educators save time, keep classes organized, and improve communication with students. Once you invite your students to your Classroom (via email invite or having them join with the code provided to you), you can create, collect, and distribute assignments paperlessly. Students can keep track of what’s due and begin working with just a click.
- Tech Needed: Any device with a web browser
Tarah Tesmer
Email: tesmert@woodridge68.org
Website: http://techd68.blogspot.com
Phone: (630) 967-2070
Twitter: @TesmerTechD68