Category: Tech Tools

Tech tools for student engagement.

January Tech Tip: Tech-based Gamification in the Classroom

Which tech game is right for me and my students? Click here to explore and learn various tech games for the classroom and see which one fits your needs best. If you would like to learn how I created this webpage in Canva, let me know!

Canva Templates for Teachers

I am kind of a Canva nut, but this is too amazing not to share!  This is a quick way to find templates in Canva that you might need as a teacher for you or for your students to create! Click here to take you to the website. 

If you are new to Canva… make sure you get signed up using this Canva for Education link.  This way you get all the premium features.  Want to learn more about Canva?  Invite me in and let me show you!

Tech Tip for November: Clever ways to have your students engage with the content

Tweet It

Student create their own tweet with this tweet generator.  They can create their own made-up tweet to showcase their learning on the topic.  For example- this student-created fake tweet is from George Washington and the student also created responses to that tweet.

What would Yoda Say?

Click here for a forced copy of a Peardeck enabled slide-deck with Yoda templates.  Students can type in their response as to what Yoda would say about the learning and then all student responses can be shared with the class anonymously.

Create a GIF or a Meme

Students can create their own GIFS or Memes by using this website https://imgflip.com/.  Check out the American Revolution example to the left.

OR students could also use Canva as a resource to create a meme or GIF.  Click here to the blog post about how to set up a free Canva for Education account.

Fake Text Generator

Have students create a text message conversation to show what they know in a creative way.  Click here for a fake text message generator. 

Here’s a couple history examples…

Netflix Template

Using Netflix template is another creative way for students to show what they know.  They imagine a Netflix show related to your content/lesson and then create the overview, episodes, etc… that you would see if you were exploring that show .  Click here for a copy of the template.

New Phone… Who dis?

Have students design what a character or historical figure’s phone would look like?  What images would they have?  What music?  What text messages?  Who would be in their contacts?  What reminders, notes, notifications would they have? Click here for a copy of slide deck template of this activity.

Design a T-shirt, Bumper Sticker, a tattoo, or Cake Writing

Have students show what they know by creating a design to demonstrate their learning. Make it stronger by asking them to explain/support their design with evidence. Some examples could be a t-shirt design, bumper sticker, tattoo design, or writing on a cake. Check out the Donner Party tshirt design from a student of mine in the past (I also made them include important details on this exit ticket).

Flippity.net

Check out Flippity.net.  This website allows you to customize and create many different types of activities (scavenger hunt, memory, snowman, etc…)  My favorite feature is the random name picker; check it out in the Edugif below!  It goes pretty fast, so if you would like me to help you use this tool, shoot me an email and I will come to you and show you how to incorporate it into your lessons.

Tech Tip of the Week!

Sick of students creating powerpoint after powerpoint in your class?  Want to provide them another avenue to create and express themselves and/or show what they know? 

This week’s tech tip is a Thinglink about Thinglink.  It is a creation tool that you and/or your students can use to show what they know, share information, etc… in a different way. 

Check out the Thinglink below that will explain everything about Thinglink.  Also, highlighted in this Thinglink are two CCSD1 teachers who have tried Thinglink in their classrooms this year!  One is a step-by-step project, created in Rebecca Elliott’s 7th grade ELA classroom, that has students edit an already created thinglink to showcase their understanding of the novel, Heat.  The other one is a Happiness choice board project created in Melina Foster’s ELA classroom at the HS. 

Also included in this thinglink is a “student and teacher how-to-guide” to get you started (you can download it right from the thinglink).  Or you can always shoot me an email and I can help you learn the tech tool, create and integrate it into a lesson, and even come to your classroom and teach the tech tool to your students! 

Gamification Strategy to boost engagement: Search and Destroy

A great way to boost engagement in your classroom is with academic gamification strategies.  There are lots of tech options out there, but an “oldie but a goodie” non-tech game is search and destroy which is essentially an academic battleship game.

Here is a pdf copy (of the above image) as well as the gameboard template.

How do I embed a Google Slide
in Canvas?

This video and step-by-step instructions show you how to embed a google slide in 2 ways! Click the image to see instructions.

Why would you want to embed rather than link? That way students do not need to leave Canvas in order to see what you want them to see.