Blended Learning General Tools For Grades K-5By Wendy Torres

Seamless connection between online and

offline work

Increased Student-Collaboration and

control over:

time

pace

place or path of learning

Online classroom presence

Repurposed time

Hallmarks of blended learning:

Online classroom presence

http://blendspace.com http://lessonpaths.comhttp://www.symbalooedu.

com

http://zunal.comhttps://www.thinglink.com

/eduhttp://tizmos.com

Blendspace

This site enables the teacher to

add content, assessments, and

tracking information in one

central location for students to

access. Blendspace gives

teachers the ability to

individualize and customize

lesson content to suit specific

needs of their students. How to

use

Video!

Benefits of using Blendspace

It’s FREE!

24 hour access: Works on all

browsers(can work on any

device)

Allows teachers the ability to

utilize the publishing

sharing capabilities of the Internet

Students don’t need a

username or password to

access content: just need the

url

Click and drag interface: easy

to use

For older students, you could have them provide comments on content and answer quiz questions if you want( that does require a username and password)

Lessonpaths

With lessonpaths, you can add content,

assessments, and tracking information in

one central location for students to

access. The way lessonpaths operates is

that it allows you to view and create

“playlists” which consists of links to online

content correlated to a specific topic. Each

piece of content added to a playlist is

called a “step” and one navigates between

“steps” by clicking on left or right arrow

icons on the screen. When you add a

“step” you add content by either adding a

direct url link, uploading a file, writing direct

text into a word processing box, or creating

a pop quiz. Your playlists can contain as

many “steps” as you want.

How to

use

Video!

It’s FREE!24 hour access: Works on all browsers(can work on

any device)

Allows you to see content one page at a time

Students don’t need a username or password to access content: just need

the url

A playlist can have as many “steps” as needed

Each step gets its own url

You can navigate between steps as needed

For older students, you could have them provide

comments on content and answer quiz questions if

you want( that does require a username and password)

You can control the content, and

who views/edit it.

Benefits of using Lessonpaths

Symbaloo is an online tool that allows you to

organize your favorite websites in one

location. Using symbaloo, you can

categorize your websites so that they are

organized according to

subject/content. Each category is called a

webmix. You can have as many webmixes

as you want. Webmixes can be public or

private. Public webmixes can be found in

the symbaloo gallery, private webmixes do

not show up in the gallery, but can be

shared via a url link. Only people who have

that link can see the webmix. Students do

not need an account to view

any webmix. Accounts are required to edit

and add content to a mix. Webmixes can

also be embedded into your website.

Symbalooedu

How to

use

Video!

Benefits of using Symbaloo

It’s FREE!

24 hour access: Works on all

browsers(can work on any device)

No more misspelled urls, or students getting to

inappropriate sites. They only go to the sites you

have selected!

Students don’t need a username or

password to access content: just need the

url.

Minimize distractions and keep young

students focused.

You can have as many webmixes as you like with one

account!

Visual thumbnails proven more

attractive to kids.

Click here to see an example of a webmix I created about online comic creators.

ZunalZunal.com provides

teachers templates for creating webquests

quickly.

Click here to

find out more

about

webquests..

Sure would be nice to see an example of one. Click here to see an

example.

Thinglinkedu

Thinglink is an online tool

that lets you add online

resources to an existing

image. In other words,

this tool allows you to

upload an image and

then you can add any

online resource-

including pictures,

websites, music and

videos-to that still image.

So, with this tool, a single

image becomes an

interactive information

board!

“People learn by employing effective and flexible strategies that help them to understand, reason,

memorize, and solve problems.”

-One of the principles of Personalized Learning

“Brains deal with images differently than with print.”

-Hall Davidson of the Discovery Learning Network

“Visual media raises student achievement.”

-Hall Davidson of the Discovery Learning Network

Why use Thinglink?

It’s Free!

You can create

thinglinks and then

share the url with

students/parents. Students

do not need to have an

account.

They only need an

account if you want them

to create, edit, and add

content.( This is a great

option for older students).

One of the best things

about this tool is that is

easy and versatile, so it

can be used with a variety

of student audiences.

Ideas for using Thinglink:

There are many

ways that thinglink

can be used in the

classroom!

Click on the book to access a presentation created

by Donna Baumbach-another fellow educator- that

contains over 81 different ways that you can incorporate

this tool. All the ideas were submitted by other educators

who have used this tool in their classrooms.

General Video tools for Grades K-5

Online Video Tools

http://www.watchknowlearn.org/

http://viewpure.com

http://safeshare.tv/ http://learnzillion.com

While being able to use youtube to share videos with our students is great, the

problem with youtube is that there often advertisements, inappropriate comments and links to other videos. These “extras”

can be distracting and look unprofessional during a presentation.

With viewpure and safeshare.tv, you simply copy and paste the youtube link into the text box and then click on the create/generate link buttons. Then you will get a unique url link for the video.

You can use that link when you project AND you can also send the link along to students so they can view the video from home without seeing any

inappropriate comments, advertisements or other videos.

·

Viewpure

Safeshare

Videos

without

the

extras!

Watchknowlearn

Watchknowlearn is an

online source that allows

you to search for

educational video content

and allows you to house

that content in one location.

This is a great site because

who has time to go through

all the junk on youtube for a

video that might be a good

fit for your classroom? What

makes this site unique is

that you can filter your

search result so that the

videos you find are very

specific. You can filter the

results by age and subject

matter.

Benefits of using Watchknowlearn

It’s FREE!

24 hour access: Works on all

browsers(can work on any device)

Saved lesson planning time: No more wasting time on youtube seeing if a video MIGHT be

useful for class

Students don’t need a username or password to access content: just need the url

There is also a section that has videos broken down by grade,

subject and common core

standards.

Founded by two former teachers in 2011,

LearnZillion offers a free and growing set of

math and English Language resources for

grades 2-12 that combines short video

lessons, assessments, playlists, and

progress reports. These videos provide

grade-level appropriate, conceptual, visual

explanations that can be used by both kids

and adults. Each lesson focuses on a

specific sub-standard, and can be organized

by teachers into custom playlists for

students.

Teachers use LearnZillion videos and

resources for everything from whole class

instruction to small group and independent

work, as well as for homework assignments

and to enable parents to help support

student learning at home.

Learnzillion

How it works:

You create a free teacher account and after you sign up

for an account, you can browse through the different

lessons. When you click on a lesson, you have the option

of downloading the material so you can adapt it as you

see fit to meet the needs of your students. You can also

download printable resources that go along with the video

lesson. You can share the video lesson on an LCD

screen and/or you can also assign the lesson to a class-so

students can do it in the computer lab or at home.

How do students access the lessons you assign:

If you want the students to access the content so they can do

it on individual computers, there are two ways that students

can access the lesson you have assigned. (With login

information or without login information)

With login information: When you add students, it will give you

an enrollment code. Students click on the student login page,

copy and paste the enrollment code, and then come up with a

username and password. After that they have access to any

lessons you have assigned.

Without login information: If you don’t want your students to

have login information, you can get a quick code from a

lesson. The students would then put their quick code in, and

the lesson will show up on their screen.

Learnzillion

Having students

access video lessons

With login information: Students can access

multiple lessons you have assigned and you can get

progress reports and grades.

Without login information(quick code)

Students can access one lesson at a time. A different quick code is provided for

each lesson. You can’t access progress reports or grades using this method.

It’s great

that you can

download

the videos

as

powerpoints

and adapt

them to suit

your needs.

Thousands of

video resources

for FREE!

Yeah, and it

is always

available

because it is

online!

Discussion, collaboration tools for K-5

IBOARD Thoughts/Reflections

IBOARD My Learning

http://padlet.com/ and

http://primarywall.com/

http://en.linoit.com/https://todaysmeet.com

http://kidblog.orghttp://titanpad.com/ and

http://primarypad.com

http://www.collaborizeclassroom.com/

This tool is free, simple to use and can

be used to allow younger students a fun,

engaging way to formulate and share

their thoughts about an issue.

With this site you can get student

feedback. This resource can be used

when you would like pupils to state their

thoughts or opinions. The text frames

automatically shrink the font as the

students type, so the resource is suitable

for simple statements or longer

explanations. Text frames can be

presented as captions, speech bubbles

or thought bubbles. With this site,

students can also edit an avatar to

represent themselves.

IBOARD: Thoughts and

Reflections

Great

tool for

K-2

students!

The main thing you would

have to be concerned with

is the students' ability to

type content as students type at

different paces dependently on

their level of exposure to

keyboarding.

Teachers may want the

students to write down their

answers first prior to typing

but that is up to individual

teacher discretion and

judgment.

This tool can be used by students in groups, or on individual computers. It

could be used as pre-assessment, during activity

or post assessment assignment.

A free activity for children to reflect on

and celebrate their learning

achievements.

A simple but powerful activity - children

can record their learning achievements

on the screen by adding images. Sound

support included. Also, the child can

personalize the face!

Students can pick between two word

prompts: “ I can” and “ I am learning

to…” They can click on the images and

drag them on the circle. They can also

type labels to describe what they are

learning or are to do.

IBOARD:MyLearning

Great tool

for K-2

students!

My Learning

This is a great tool to use at the beginning or ending of

units. Have students celebrate their achievements.

Use the print outs to create class books or class bulletin

boards. Have students share their learning boards

with each other.

Online chats and discussion boards are great

Web 2.0 tools that can be used as extensions

of the classroom. When these tools are used

effectively, they can be a valuable tool to use in

conjunction with the regular face to face

classroom.

Todaysmeet is a free, simple online chat tool

that was designed so that teachers or

presenters can receive feedback and

commentary. With todaysmeet, anyone with the

link to a discussion can participate in a live

chat.

This tool allows anyone with the URL for the

specific chat stream to join in, using short

(140 character) messages.

Participants can be in the same room or across

the globe, and no membership or log in is

required. The only "skill" needed is being able

to type.

You can print out transcripts of the chat forum.

Today’s Meet

.

How to

use

Video!

Personally, I don’t like using this tool to tap

into the backchannel. It can be distracting

trying to focus on a lesson, or presentation

while also viewing a chatroom to see what

others are saying. I have, however, used it with

my students as part of team

discussion/collaboration activities. This tool

gives every student a chance to provide

commentary and ask questions.

It is a great

tool for

collaborating

and

brainstorming,

though.

Oh, you could

also set up

question and

answer session

via virtual office

hours!

Students can

create

conversations

(chats) between

fiction or nonfiction

characters

speaking about

significant events

and then print

them out.

This tool can also

be used for

comparing and

contrasting..

This is a good tool

that students can

use to express

frustrations or need

for clarification on

topics.

Lino is a free web based service that allows you to

create digital corkboards where you can“stick” post

it notes. With lino, you can add post it notes, along

with pictures, videos, files and multimedia

presentations on a digital “cork board”. So at first

glance, it appears to be a nice site to share multiple

resources from one location.

Lino, however, is much more than just a content

sharing site. It provides teachers with a great way

to engage students in brainstorming and

collaboration activities online. For example,

teachers can provide a topic and allow students to

generate ideas and/or ask questions before they

begin prewriting. If the teacher chooses to, she can

create a corkboard that students can post

comments, images, and videos to. Teachers also

have the ability to can create groups and make

canvases (corkboards) private or public.

Lino

How to

use

Video!

Use it for brainstorming or collaboration

Use to help "flip" the content of your classroom: Students can access the

canvas from home and then discuss the content in class

Use a canvas as an electronic portfolio or "showcase" of students' work

Use a canvas to share classroom news, announcements or praises

Create a canvas of useful websites that help reinforce content that students can

use at home for practice

Ideas for using Lino

To learn

more about

this tool click

here!

Padlet and primarywall are both tools that

allow you to create virtual walls/digital

bulletin boards.

• Using padlet you can add post it notes,

along with pictures, videos, files and

multimedia presentations on a digital

board for free. You can create a free

account so you can edit and delete

walls as needed. Students do not need

a login to use the tool. They only need

the url to your wall. Walls can be public

or private.

• Using primarywall, students can add

post it notes. Primarywall is the simpler

version of padlet. (pictures and links as

well as other features are available for

a fee.) Students do not need a login to

access the walls. They just need the

url. Walls are deleted after 30 days with

the free version.

·

Padlet

Primarywall

Click

here for

a video

on how

to use

padlet!

Use padlet

for grades

3-5.

Primarywall

for grades

K-2.

Great way to engage students in

brainstorming.

Great for collaboration or

getting feedback from others.

Provide a topic and allow students to

generate ideas and/or ask questions.

Great for note-taking

Reflection: Ask a provoking question at the beginning of a unit then have students revisit their answers at the end of the

unit. Do they still feel the same? Why or why not?

Vocabulary review

Ideas for using Padlet or Primary wall

Click here

to see

more

examples!

Kidblog

Kidblog.org is designed for

elementary and middle school

teachers who want to provide

each student with their own,

unique blog.

Kidblog is simple to use, and

allow students to publish posts

and participate in discussions

within a secure classroom

blogging community. Teachers

maintain complete control over

student blogs.

It can be

accessed on

any device,

24/7.

The simple

interface

takes away

the

distractions

that come

with other

blogging

sites.

Use Kidblog to:

•create classroom discussions

•learn digital citizenship

•practicing writing skills

•create an e-portfolio

•reflect on learning

•formatively assess writing

Oh wow! I

just found

some

awesome

educational

videos

about

blogs!

Site one

Site two Site

three

·

Titanpad

Primarypad

Titanpad and primarypad are web-based

word processors designed for schools that

allows pupils and teachers to work together

in real-time. Titanpad and primarypad are

almost the same thing except primarypad

does not include a chat feature and its

interface is simpler.

(meaning you can’t import outside

documents. You can just type text.)

With both you can:

• Easily create a new public document,

share the unique url, enter your name,

and begin writing.

• Each collaborator receives their own

color, making it easy to track each

person's changes.

• Note that in order to keep a working

document private, the url should not be

shared with those not involved in the

collaboration.(with a free account on

titanpad, you can make pads private)

• Changes to the document are made in

real time.

• Students do not need a login to access

the pads. Pads are deleted after some

time.

Click here

for a

tutorial on

how to

use

titanpad.

Ideas for use :

Collaborizeclassroom is a free, online

learning platform for teachers and

students to create structured

discussions in a private online

community. Students can expand on

discussions as well as interact with

online lesson plans that allow for

deeper participation inside and outside

the classroom.

This tool offers a variety of tools to

increase student engagement,

including multimedia uploading,

forums, and simple questionnaires.

Collaborizeclassroom

.

How to

use

Video!

This is a great tool

to use with 4th

graders to 12th

graders.

A word of advice before you use this tool:

The interface of this tool is easy and fairly user friendly.

However, due to the various options that you have

available with this tool, it is not a tool I would recommend

using with K-2 students. I have used discussion boards

with my Fifth graders and can see this as a wonderful tool

to use with Middle and Upper School students. In order

for students to use this service, they will either have to

registrar with an e-mail address or will have to create a

username and then request membership.

If you are going to use collaborizeclassroom or any other

discussion board forum you also need to teach your

students proper online communication rules. This

is because while our students are comfortable using

technology, they have to be directed how to use it. They

don’t initially know how to do this.

*Below are some resources that can help you with this:

For grades 3-5:

http://www.brainpop.com/technology/computersandintern

et/digitaletiquette/

* For grades 5-8

* http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/hoodmari

ne-1086694-online-chatting-do-s-and-don-ts/

Collaborizeclassroom

Happy Blending!

Presentation created by Wendy Torres

Roland Park Country School

Technology Integration Specialist

Website: http://sp.rpcs.org/faculty/torresw

Blog: http://sp.rpcs.org/faculty/TorresW/techsnacks