Symbaloo
After researching various organizational platforms, I have determined that Symbaloo would be particularly useful for my kindergarten through 4th-grade STEM Classroom. All of my students (850+) have to share a class set of a mixture of Chromebooks and IPads. If I were to simply upload all the websites and apps used by all the grade levels, it would become confusing (especially for my younger kiddos). However I could create grade specific clusters using Symbaloo.
For example: I could create a 4th-grade cluster. The cluster may contain Popplet, Code.org., Kodable, Tynker, PLTW, and more.
The other grade levels would have links to websites that are needed for their grade-specific curriculum.
After researching various organizational platforms, I have determined that Symbaloo would be particularly useful for my kindergarten through 4th-grade STEM Classroom. All of my students (850+) have to share a class set of a mixture of Chromebooks and IPads. If I were to simply upload all the websites and apps used by all the grade levels, it would become confusing (especially for my younger kiddos). However I could create grade specific clusters using Symbaloo.
For example: I could create a 4th-grade cluster. The cluster may contain Popplet, Code.org., Kodable, Tynker, PLTW, and more.
The other grade levels would have links to websites that are needed for their grade-specific curriculum.
BigHugeLabs
Of the resources I viewed, I though BigHugeLabs.com could be useful within my STEM classroom. Specifically I liked that it was a free resources that could be utilized on various devices. I have a mixture of Chromebooks and iPads in my classroom, so I would prefer resources that would work on both devices.
I would use the badge makers to create classroom badges for my students. The badge would have the student's name, homeroom teacher, and Inkling (our curriculum platform) username and password (on the back side). When you have 800 students a week it is hard to lookup usernames and passwords, let alone remember everyone's name.
Students would be responsible for wearing their badge to my class each week. If a student wares their badge to class, they would earn a Dolphin Dollar for being responsible and prepared. My school has a reward system called Dolphin Dollars (our mascot is a dolphin names Rocky). Students earn Dolphin Dollars for being responsible, kind, and such. They can spend their Dolphin Dollars in our school store called Rocky's Cove.
I also like the Magazine Cover Creator (MCC) available on BigHugeLabs.com. The MCC would work on my classroom devices, and is a free resource. The MCC is student friendly, and easy to use. Students would use this to create a cover displaying an important person in STEM (past or current). They would have to include a picture of the person, a catchy title, and a short description of why their chosen person is important to STEM. Students would then post this to our class seesaw page to be view by peers. This will allow my students to learn about numerous people in STEM in a unique and creative way throughout the course of the school year.
Of the resources I viewed, I though BigHugeLabs.com could be useful within my STEM classroom. Specifically I liked that it was a free resources that could be utilized on various devices. I have a mixture of Chromebooks and iPads in my classroom, so I would prefer resources that would work on both devices.
I would use the badge makers to create classroom badges for my students. The badge would have the student's name, homeroom teacher, and Inkling (our curriculum platform) username and password (on the back side). When you have 800 students a week it is hard to lookup usernames and passwords, let alone remember everyone's name.
Students would be responsible for wearing their badge to my class each week. If a student wares their badge to class, they would earn a Dolphin Dollar for being responsible and prepared. My school has a reward system called Dolphin Dollars (our mascot is a dolphin names Rocky). Students earn Dolphin Dollars for being responsible, kind, and such. They can spend their Dolphin Dollars in our school store called Rocky's Cove.
I also like the Magazine Cover Creator (MCC) available on BigHugeLabs.com. The MCC would work on my classroom devices, and is a free resource. The MCC is student friendly, and easy to use. Students would use this to create a cover displaying an important person in STEM (past or current). They would have to include a picture of the person, a catchy title, and a short description of why their chosen person is important to STEM. Students would then post this to our class seesaw page to be view by peers. This will allow my students to learn about numerous people in STEM in a unique and creative way throughout the course of the school year.
PollEverywhere
Poll everywhere is like a combination of PearDeck and Kahoot. Poll Everywhere allows presenters to add real-time polls into their presentations through the incorporation of questions. Poll Everywhere allows presenters to create their own questions. Questions are then asked in a competitive manner to energize and engage the crowd. As an educator, the crowd will be your students. There are different versions of the platform available. For classroom purposes I would choose tone of the K-12 plans.
The most economic version for teachers is the free version that allows up to 40 respondents per presentation. The free version also includes features such as PowerPoint compatibility, various question types (including, multiple choice, true or false, free response, etc.), live word clouds, text walls, customizable styles, correct answer display, and competitions.
I could use Poll Everywhere in my K-4th grade STEM classes (however, I would use PearDeck first). I could use Poll Everywhere in conjunction with PowerPoint. I could include multiple choice questions within my content presentations. The added questions would promote student engagement, ensure focus, and provide opportunity for formative assessment. This would help to ensure student understanding of content, and provide an opportunity to reflect on student understanding to note content that may need yo be reviewed.
Poll everywhere is like a combination of PearDeck and Kahoot. Poll Everywhere allows presenters to add real-time polls into their presentations through the incorporation of questions. Poll Everywhere allows presenters to create their own questions. Questions are then asked in a competitive manner to energize and engage the crowd. As an educator, the crowd will be your students. There are different versions of the platform available. For classroom purposes I would choose tone of the K-12 plans.
The most economic version for teachers is the free version that allows up to 40 respondents per presentation. The free version also includes features such as PowerPoint compatibility, various question types (including, multiple choice, true or false, free response, etc.), live word clouds, text walls, customizable styles, correct answer display, and competitions.
I could use Poll Everywhere in my K-4th grade STEM classes (however, I would use PearDeck first). I could use Poll Everywhere in conjunction with PowerPoint. I could include multiple choice questions within my content presentations. The added questions would promote student engagement, ensure focus, and provide opportunity for formative assessment. This would help to ensure student understanding of content, and provide an opportunity to reflect on student understanding to note content that may need yo be reviewed.
KidBlog
KidBlog is a website similar to Padlet. KidBlog is a blogging forum designed for students and teachers.
KidBlog provides a forum for safe student publishing.
KidBlog provides Moderation tools. Teachers can monitor all activity within a community of authors. Posts can even be public, but nothing goes live until a teacher approves it.
KidBlog provides students an authentic audience.KidBlog empowers students to write with a meaningful purpose for a real audience. Students can connect with other classes down the hallway, across your district, or around the world. This allows students to practice digital citizenship within a secure environment.
KidBlog allows students, teachers, and parents to access digital portfolios. KidBlog enables schools to document student learning over time. With no manual curation required, students' portfolios are built automatically across classes, demonstrating growth year-over-year.
A 12-month membership to KidBlog can be purchased for $48. This allows unlimited class sections. Each section can include up to 200 students. This would work well for my STEM classroom. I have 36 classes throughout a rotation. KidBlog would allow me to create a section for each of my classes.
My K-4th STEM students could use KidBlog to share their ideas pertaining to the Engineering Design Process. Students could use KidBlog to share their brainstorms to answer the module’s question or problem. Also, students could use KidBlog to share their models they constructed to solve the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) module’s problem.
KidBlog is a website similar to Padlet. KidBlog is a blogging forum designed for students and teachers.
KidBlog provides a forum for safe student publishing.
KidBlog provides Moderation tools. Teachers can monitor all activity within a community of authors. Posts can even be public, but nothing goes live until a teacher approves it.
KidBlog provides students an authentic audience.KidBlog empowers students to write with a meaningful purpose for a real audience. Students can connect with other classes down the hallway, across your district, or around the world. This allows students to practice digital citizenship within a secure environment.
KidBlog allows students, teachers, and parents to access digital portfolios. KidBlog enables schools to document student learning over time. With no manual curation required, students' portfolios are built automatically across classes, demonstrating growth year-over-year.
A 12-month membership to KidBlog can be purchased for $48. This allows unlimited class sections. Each section can include up to 200 students. This would work well for my STEM classroom. I have 36 classes throughout a rotation. KidBlog would allow me to create a section for each of my classes.
My K-4th STEM students could use KidBlog to share their ideas pertaining to the Engineering Design Process. Students could use KidBlog to share their brainstorms to answer the module’s question or problem. Also, students could use KidBlog to share their models they constructed to solve the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) module’s problem.
Class DoJo
ClassDojo is a classroom resource that is available as an app or a website. It is a great resource for implementing classroom management. It is also a resource that promotes student learning, and provides a forum for parent communication.
ClassDoJo has tons of great resources for educators, including individual student profiles, parent communication, a sharing forum (called Class Story), attendance tracker, name randomizer, timer, social emotional mini lessons (called Big Ideas), group maker, noise meter, directions display, Think Pair Share forum, calendar/agenda section, and music channel.
The most common use for ClassDoJo is the point system. This allows teachers to add points to a student’s avatar as a reward system. Teachers can also take away points as a consequence if needed. Often times these points can be used to earn whole group (such as a PJ day) or individualized (such as 5min extra iPad time) rewards.
I would integrate Class DoJo in my K-12th STEM classroom by adding a daily agenda for students, including daily class assignments, homework, due dates, and upcoming tests. I would use the timer tool to time transitions, timed assignments, and cooperative learning structures. I would use the randomizer tool to select students for classroom job assignments. I think the directions feature would be specifically useful for displaying step-by-step processes for our project constructions. This would allows students to self-monitor time and complete tasks without asking what to do next.
Students can use ClassDojo as a learning tool in a few different ways. Students can create personalized portfolios to showcase their work. Students can upload their work to their profile. This would be a great resource for students to share what they are learning with parents and guardians. The Think Pair Share is a great resource for students to share their ideas pertaining to specific questions prompted by the teacher. These can include questions pertaining to content, team building questions, or get to know you questions.
ClassDojo is a classroom resource that is available as an app or a website. It is a great resource for implementing classroom management. It is also a resource that promotes student learning, and provides a forum for parent communication.
ClassDoJo has tons of great resources for educators, including individual student profiles, parent communication, a sharing forum (called Class Story), attendance tracker, name randomizer, timer, social emotional mini lessons (called Big Ideas), group maker, noise meter, directions display, Think Pair Share forum, calendar/agenda section, and music channel.
The most common use for ClassDoJo is the point system. This allows teachers to add points to a student’s avatar as a reward system. Teachers can also take away points as a consequence if needed. Often times these points can be used to earn whole group (such as a PJ day) or individualized (such as 5min extra iPad time) rewards.
I would integrate Class DoJo in my K-12th STEM classroom by adding a daily agenda for students, including daily class assignments, homework, due dates, and upcoming tests. I would use the timer tool to time transitions, timed assignments, and cooperative learning structures. I would use the randomizer tool to select students for classroom job assignments. I think the directions feature would be specifically useful for displaying step-by-step processes for our project constructions. This would allows students to self-monitor time and complete tasks without asking what to do next.
Students can use ClassDojo as a learning tool in a few different ways. Students can create personalized portfolios to showcase their work. Students can upload their work to their profile. This would be a great resource for students to share what they are learning with parents and guardians. The Think Pair Share is a great resource for students to share their ideas pertaining to specific questions prompted by the teacher. These can include questions pertaining to content, team building questions, or get to know you questions.
Scratch Jr.
After reviewing appedreview.com I particularly like Scratch Jr. Scratch Jr. teaches users beginning and intermediate computer-programming skills. Scratch Jr. provides students with a introductory video tutorial. This allows students to become acquainted with platform components. Scratch is a great platform to teach students block coding in a fun and engaging way.
What I liked most about appedreview's review of Scratch Jr. is that it provided some ideas for instruction incorporation
First, they suggested that teachers read students a scene or description about a cat and require students to illustrate the actions in the text using this app.
Next, they suggested that teachers have students create a story using this app. To do so, students will need to add text and commands to multiple slides. Teachers can set the parameters for the amount of slides, commands, and text required. When finished, students can share their stories by connecting their iPad to a projector.
Lastly, they suggested that teachers create a Programmers’ Movie Day competition using this app. To do so, teachers must make the parameters for the competition, such as the movie must include three slides, last for 90 seconds, or use 20 commands. Next, teachers are to give students or groups of students time to create their program. When ready, students are to set their iPads on tables around the room and then have students walk around the room and view the movies. Finally, students are to vote for their favorite program. Teachers can extend this activity by having students give their classmates’ feedback about the program by stating what they liked about the program and/or ideas for improving it.
As a K-4th grade STEM teacher I plan on leaving Scratch Jr. as my emergency sub plans. I will ask the sub to read students a scene or description about a cat and require students to illustrate the actions in the text using this app. The sub will then circulate the room and assist students when needed.
I also plan to teach my Kindergarten students the basics of coding during our PLTW Computer Systems module using Scratch Jr. Students will be asked to code a game that adds a point to the score board when the ball reaches the soccer net.
I also plan to use Scratch Jr. as an introduction to coding in my 3rd and 4th grade coding club. This will allow my students to help other students if needed during a day I have a substitute.
Overall, Scratch Jr. is a great introductory tool to teach students the basics of coding, and allow them to express their knowledge in creative and unique ways.
After reviewing appedreview.com I particularly like Scratch Jr. Scratch Jr. teaches users beginning and intermediate computer-programming skills. Scratch Jr. provides students with a introductory video tutorial. This allows students to become acquainted with platform components. Scratch is a great platform to teach students block coding in a fun and engaging way.
What I liked most about appedreview's review of Scratch Jr. is that it provided some ideas for instruction incorporation
First, they suggested that teachers read students a scene or description about a cat and require students to illustrate the actions in the text using this app.
Next, they suggested that teachers have students create a story using this app. To do so, students will need to add text and commands to multiple slides. Teachers can set the parameters for the amount of slides, commands, and text required. When finished, students can share their stories by connecting their iPad to a projector.
Lastly, they suggested that teachers create a Programmers’ Movie Day competition using this app. To do so, teachers must make the parameters for the competition, such as the movie must include three slides, last for 90 seconds, or use 20 commands. Next, teachers are to give students or groups of students time to create their program. When ready, students are to set their iPads on tables around the room and then have students walk around the room and view the movies. Finally, students are to vote for their favorite program. Teachers can extend this activity by having students give their classmates’ feedback about the program by stating what they liked about the program and/or ideas for improving it.
As a K-4th grade STEM teacher I plan on leaving Scratch Jr. as my emergency sub plans. I will ask the sub to read students a scene or description about a cat and require students to illustrate the actions in the text using this app. The sub will then circulate the room and assist students when needed.
I also plan to teach my Kindergarten students the basics of coding during our PLTW Computer Systems module using Scratch Jr. Students will be asked to code a game that adds a point to the score board when the ball reaches the soccer net.
I also plan to use Scratch Jr. as an introduction to coding in my 3rd and 4th grade coding club. This will allow my students to help other students if needed during a day I have a substitute.
Overall, Scratch Jr. is a great introductory tool to teach students the basics of coding, and allow them to express their knowledge in creative and unique ways.
Blended Learning:
Blended learning could be defined as implementing a lesson that incorporates digital instruction as well as in person instruction. I think the most essential aspect of blended learning is the opportunities it provides for allowing educators to personalize learning for their individual student's needs.
In a way I think blended learning could be redefined as an instructional strategy utilized to implement personalized learning through the incorporation of digital and non-digital methods.
Blended learning could be defined as implementing a lesson that incorporates digital instruction as well as in person instruction. I think the most essential aspect of blended learning is the opportunities it provides for allowing educators to personalize learning for their individual student's needs.
In a way I think blended learning could be redefined as an instructional strategy utilized to implement personalized learning through the incorporation of digital and non-digital methods.
Blended Learning Tools:
Three resources that seemed particularly interesting to me throughout this course were Discovery Education, Symbaloo, and Quizizz. I have used Discovery Education and Quizizz previously, but did not consider their full capabilities in regards to blended learning.
I particularly like that Discovery Education allows teachers to create and assign content that can be complete by students at their own pace. I also like that Discovery Education has a huge bank of resources already available to be assigned. Discovery Education would be a great resource to implement in blended learning.
Quizizz is a great study resource for students. Teachers can easily create and share content for students to study at their own pace. Quizziz is another resource that would be beneficial in a blended learning setting.
I think Symbaloo is the resource I found most interesting throughout this course. I had not heard of Symbaloo prior to this class. I love that Symbaloo allows teachers to create boards, sort of like a play list, for students. This provides all the resources a student might need in a singular location. This is a resource I plan to implement within my blended learning lessons.
Three resources that seemed particularly interesting to me throughout this course were Discovery Education, Symbaloo, and Quizizz. I have used Discovery Education and Quizizz previously, but did not consider their full capabilities in regards to blended learning.
I particularly like that Discovery Education allows teachers to create and assign content that can be complete by students at their own pace. I also like that Discovery Education has a huge bank of resources already available to be assigned. Discovery Education would be a great resource to implement in blended learning.
Quizizz is a great study resource for students. Teachers can easily create and share content for students to study at their own pace. Quizziz is another resource that would be beneficial in a blended learning setting.
I think Symbaloo is the resource I found most interesting throughout this course. I had not heard of Symbaloo prior to this class. I love that Symbaloo allows teachers to create boards, sort of like a play list, for students. This provides all the resources a student might need in a singular location. This is a resource I plan to implement within my blended learning lessons.
Assumptions:
Coming from an Elementary setting, assumptions from the district level in regards to blended learning and technology are not exactly true within my school setting.
The assumptions include:
1. All students have enough access to technology on a daily bases.
- This is not entirely true. Some of the lower grade-levels within my school are basically 1 device per every 3 students.
2. Students know how to use iPads (and it does not take them 10 min. to log on...)
- It really does take them 10 minutes to log onto anything.
3. Teachers know how to trouble shoot technological issues, and if not, the media aid does.
- I's just going to say not true, and leave it at that...
4. All students have access to technology at home
- They simply do not.
5. Teachers can learn to effectively use a platform/application from the 15 minute training the might, or might not get.
- Many teachers do not feel they are supported in learning the capabilities of a platform, and therefore become frustrated and use it at it's most basic functions, or don't use it at all.
6. Teachers who are comfortable with the software/platform/application have time to take on the additional task of showing other teachers how to use them.
- Sometimes there is simply not enough time, you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make it drink, and there are other things that need to be done to make your own classrooms successful. ( This responsibility should not fall on another teacher, it should be a separate job itself).
Slight rant over...
Coming from an Elementary setting, assumptions from the district level in regards to blended learning and technology are not exactly true within my school setting.
The assumptions include:
1. All students have enough access to technology on a daily bases.
- This is not entirely true. Some of the lower grade-levels within my school are basically 1 device per every 3 students.
2. Students know how to use iPads (and it does not take them 10 min. to log on...)
- It really does take them 10 minutes to log onto anything.
3. Teachers know how to trouble shoot technological issues, and if not, the media aid does.
- I's just going to say not true, and leave it at that...
4. All students have access to technology at home
- They simply do not.
5. Teachers can learn to effectively use a platform/application from the 15 minute training the might, or might not get.
- Many teachers do not feel they are supported in learning the capabilities of a platform, and therefore become frustrated and use it at it's most basic functions, or don't use it at all.
6. Teachers who are comfortable with the software/platform/application have time to take on the additional task of showing other teachers how to use them.
- Sometimes there is simply not enough time, you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make it drink, and there are other things that need to be done to make your own classrooms successful. ( This responsibility should not fall on another teacher, it should be a separate job itself).
Slight rant over...
Blende Learning Concept Map:
I used the web-based platform MindMup to create my concept map depicting the instructional outline for creating a high quality blended learning experience. In my concept I stated each step of the blended learning lesson design, and the components of each step.
I used the web-based platform MindMup to create my concept map depicting the instructional outline for creating a high quality blended learning experience. In my concept I stated each step of the blended learning lesson design, and the components of each step.