Attendees will learn how web tools can quickly and easily be integrated into the learning environment and how they can be used to engage learners, inspire creativity and collaboration. Participants will learn simple and engaging ways to transform instruction and see students benefit through choosing how to show what they know and can do with the material.
Session will show ways to expand how, when and where students are learning. Through the use of digital tools and Blended Learning methods, students can learn beyond the classroom setting and are empowered through choices. Providing opportunities for students to do more in the classroom, by encouraging them to become the teachers and use these tools to lead lessons and drive their learning, promotes autonomy, builds student confidence and leads to great student engagement. Creating an online space for students to access class resources, interact with peers, have opportunities to connect with other learners is vital for students today. Using Edmodo in my classroom has opened up many benefits for students to expand how they learn and promotes choices in learning. We can use many tools within our learning space. Example tools to be shared are Buncee, Formative, Nearpod, Flipgrid, EDpuzzle, Blendspace. and tools for creating AR/VR experiences to immerse students in learning. Tools will be shared which can be used for teachers and students to expand their learning space and exchange roles in the classroom setting. I will highlight a few of the tools and how they can be used by teachers and students to enhance learning in and outside of the classroom. I will share images of the students using these tools, talk about how I have created asynchronous lessons and flipped and blended classroom experiences, the student reactions to these experiences and the way I have used the tools for covering particular content. The students have become advocates for technology use and the great benefits tools such as these have on creativity, engagement, motivation and digital citizenship skills.
I will share how I used an asynchronous lesson with Spanish I and also have used these tools for creating blended learning experiences. I will highlight a few of the tools and how they can be used by teachers and students to enhance learning in and outside of the classroom. I will share stories and examples of the students using these tools, talk about how I have created asynchronous lessons and flipped and blended classroom experiences, the student reactions to these experiences and the way I have used the tools for covering particular content. Also will share how students have taken the lead and created lessons to teach others and taken on a new role, giving them voice, choice and empowering them in the classroom. The students have become advocates for technology use and the great benefits tools such as these have on creativity, engagement, motivation and digital citizenship skills.
There are many great tools available that can help teachers to better provide instruction for their students through tools for communication and collaboration, so students can connect. I will briefly share how I started having the students create and lead using these tools and my independent study results of how their motivation and engagement increased through the use of and choices in technology. Students emerged as leaders and having the opportunity to observe, talk with them, get their feedback was very motivating and helpful to my practice. They openly shared their experiences, contributed to blogs, stepped out of comfort zone and took some risks. Participants will learn to successfully begin using some of these tools and how they increase student motivation, encourage creativity and choice, inspire curiosity and enable teachers to provide more personalized instruction for the students and enhance the communication and collaboration between teacher and students. Participants will interact using some of the assessment and other interactive tools that my students have created, and will see sample student projects. Attendees will use their devices to try these tools with samples specifically created for the conference. I hope that the attendees will learn some new ways to take the digital tools that are being used in the classroom and to switch roles with students and have students become the creators and leaders in the classroom. Sharing our experiences, we can come up with many new ideas that can benefit our students and our roles as teachers. The tools and resources shared will show that by offering these choices and involving students in the discussion, we can build on our professional skills, but more importantly, empower students to be more creative, innovative and curious in their learning.