Teachers’ first couple of weeks of school are often chaotic. There are numerous demands on the teacher: time management, managing educational resources, functioning communication channels. In an age of technology, this flip-flop has shifted to education. The proper toolkit can solve half of these problems. Here are five of my favorites: Peergrade, Flipgrid, Google Forms, and Pear Deck. Use these tools to improve your classroom management!
Peergrade
Teachers often ask themselves, “Do I need to use Peergrade?” The fact is, most of us do. Using this free tool allows teachers to evaluate student work in real time. The results are a nifty analysis of how students are doing in class and what they need to improve. Peergrade has been shown to boost learning by 30%. But what if I don’t? What is Peergrade and how can I use it?
Flipgrid
Besides being a valuable resource for teachers, Flipgrid also offers students the chance to express their views on various topics through video recordings. Rather than relying on text-only discussion forums, students can add emojis and stickers to make the process of learning more interesting. Moreover, students can download the video and forward it to the tech team. In addition, Flipgrid is linked to Canvas, so teachers can easily integrate it into their own courses.
Pear Deck
In addition to being effective in the classroom, Pear Deck also allows teachers to create activities for any subject. The card game lends itself especially well to activities before, during, and after a lesson. As such, teachers can create an activity to engage students and develop their reasoning skills. The card game is free to use and includes a 30-day free trial. To find out more, download the free trial version or contact a Pear Deck representative.
Quick Key
The first couple of weeks of school can be a hectic, confusing, and sometimes stressful time. Students are often distracted and out of focus. Teachers must coordinate multiple tasks, organize time, and keep functional communication channels open. With the flip of the education system toward technology, teachers must be prepared to deal with these challenges, especially if they don’t have the proper educational toolkit to address these challenges. Using the right educational tools, however, can solve half the problem.
Vocaroo
Teachers and students alike can use the versatile Vocaroo tool to enhance presentations, blogs, wikis, and websites. Its simple user interface allows even the most reluctant users to get started, and it can be used by students at all ages and educational levels. The only prerequisite is basic knowledge of recording on the Internet, and the students should be aware of security issues before using Vocaroo. It can also be downloaded as a Chrome extension, making it easy for educators to use in their classes.
Verso
The Verso tool for classroom collaboration and feedback will transform your teaching practice. It enables your students to generate original thought, and encourage real collaboration. The platform includes tools to create and export rich media activities, send challenges, group students, and export conversations. It gives you immediate visibility into student engagement, and provides a means to reflect on your own practice. In addition, it has an integrated student survey feature, which provides a real-time view into student learning.
