communication tools
Communication tools are tools that are used to communicate out to an authentic audience. You might produce newsletters, post to a classroom website or blog, or communicate to parents and students through a social network or other means. Communication tools also allow your students to provide you with information they might not share in a traditional classroom participation setting.
Below are a few examples of online tools you can use to communicate classroom news and information and create a stronger communication link with your students. Communicating with parents is essential, but you might not have an idea of how to get started or how much to communicate. Use this article to help you - Power up your Parent Communication.
Below are a few examples of online tools you can use to communicate classroom news and information and create a stronger communication link with your students. Communicating with parents is essential, but you might not have an idea of how to get started or how much to communicate. Use this article to help you - Power up your Parent Communication.
Edmodo or Google Classroom - online social networking tools that are built specifically for education. These networks are only available through an invite code or invitation. Teachers can create announcements, assignments, polls, and quizzes with this versatile tool.
SeeSaw vs Google Classroom - These tools are two of the leading student management/communication tools, but which one is the best? This article helps teachers choose between the two tools.
Since we are using Google Classroom - here is a great resource for teachers and students
SeeSaw vs Google Classroom - These tools are two of the leading student management/communication tools, but which one is the best? This article helps teachers choose between the two tools.
Since we are using Google Classroom - here is a great resource for teachers and students
Twitter - a social communication tool that allows you to share your thoughts and resources with 140 characters or less. Many teachers are using Twitter to post announcements, share resources, and participate in professional development.
Edutopia has published an article on Education Chats - check it out here. If you want to explore and join different EdChats, click here.
Check out Desiree's PInterest board on Learning Twitter
Edutopia has published an article on Education Chats - check it out here. If you want to explore and join different EdChats, click here.
Check out Desiree's PInterest board on Learning Twitter
SeeSaw - a digital portfolio tool for students of all ages, but works beautifully in a 1:1 tablet classroom. This tool is popular in primary grades, but works for any age.
Remind - a broadcasting tool that sends messages through text or email. Great for reminding students about an assignment, test, or field trip. Here are the top 10 ways to use Remind (by users of the tool).
Class Dojo - classroom management tool that works online or in an app. Students can receive positive or negative feedback. Parents can also be connected to the tool and teachers can collaborate.
ClassKick - Classkick is a free app that shows teachers in real-time exactly what students are doing and who needs help so they can provide instant feedback. Here is a short video to introduce you to the tool.
Weebly - free webpage design tool. This tool allows you to build pages by drag and drop method. You can use templates to make your work a little less time-consuming. You can also incorporate a blog into your website. This is a great tool to communicate with parents and students.
feedback tools
Answer Garden - plant a question, grow an answer. Curate answers to a single question - super simple tool with the ability to provide great participation and information. Use to quickly get short answers from your students. You do not have to create an account to use this tool.
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Google Classroom offers several ways for feedback from your students. The STREAM in Classroom offers a way for students to have a conversation through posts and comments. The teacher can create a QUESTION for students to answer. The teacher can also add a QUIZ to get more meaningful responses from students.
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Mentimeter offers quick and extensive ways to collect feedback from your audience. This is one of my favorites.
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FlipGrid - You post a question, provide a link (classroom, bit.ly, whatever works for you) and students get to provide their feedback (answer) via a video. They click on the link, add an idea, take their picture, and record. The con (a very small one) of this tool is it has emojis the students can stick onto their picture once their video is done. Think those SnapChat stickers!
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Video Conferencing tools
There are so many tools to give you options for video conferencing, but I am only going to share two.
Google Meet - perfect if everyone has a Google account. This free tool lets you share your computer screen so it is perfect for collaboration projects or to present webinars. Visit Google Meet 101 to learn how to use the tool.
Zoom - this is a newer tool. It is also free (maybe only for a limited time) and gives you the same features as Google Hangout. You can create a conference room, webinar, or collaborative meetings.
Google Meet - perfect if everyone has a Google account. This free tool lets you share your computer screen so it is perfect for collaboration projects or to present webinars. Visit Google Meet 101 to learn how to use the tool.
Zoom - this is a newer tool. It is also free (maybe only for a limited time) and gives you the same features as Google Hangout. You can create a conference room, webinar, or collaborative meetings.
Screen Recording Tools
Especially when teaching remotely, creating short tutorials for students and parents helps alleviate confusion about how to finish projects and assignments. These are just a few tools you can use.
This article (Top 10 Best Free Online Screen Recorders) does a nice job of reviewing free online recording tools.
My favorites are:
Screencastify
Screencast-o-matic
This article (Top 10 Best Free Online Screen Recorders) does a nice job of reviewing free online recording tools.
My favorites are:
Screencastify
Screencast-o-matic