Productivity Tool

 Today's subject is all about productivity. I will be informing you about an online tool that can help educators design and implement lesson plans or associated activities into their classroom. The online tool I explored is Padlet. Padlet is a tool that allows collaboration on a given subject through documents, videos, images, links, polls, or voice recordings. Not only can the teacher add information,

Productivity at its finest!

but students can as well. The tool is free to download and available on your desktop, mobile device, or tablets. The free subscription comes with 3 Padlets to create, 20MB of space to upload, and one user. You can also upgrade to the platinum plan for $9.99/month and get unlimited Padlets and more storage. The classroom plan, for $199/year has even more storage and allows 2 teachers along with 50 students. Lastly, the team plan includes all other upgrades and up to 50 users for $14.99/month. 

Using this tool was a breeze. Right when you create an account you have the option to watch a video taking you through all the steps and features of creating content on the site. I used it to create a slideshow on weather. I used pictures, videos from YouTube, links to weather related websites, and I included a link to a timed quiz for the students to take at the end of the slideshow. This tool is wonderful because it allows you to include many different types of media to present information to the students. It keeps them engaged because they can also add their own content of their choice. I had fun just creating the slideshow, so I know educators will benefit tremendously from this tool. 

This tool would definitely be used in my classroom. I love the layout, I love how customizable it is, and I love how simple it is to navigate. Although it does cost more for the feature where students can contribute as well, I think it is worth the price. Students like to have a role in how they learn, they love to have some type of responsibility. This tool would allow them to express what they know, in a creative and fun way. I would recommend teachers collaborate together and use this tool as a team to bring some excitement to the classroom.

Communication Tool

 Hey everyone! This week I explored the communication tool called 'bloomz'. 'bloomz' is a communication tool that can downloaded on your phone from the app store or Google Play or can be

Communicate with ease!

accessed online by going to bloomz.com. 'bloomz' allows the teacher to post class updates or instant message parents or students, schedule conferences, create calendars & events, post parent resources, create student portfolios, monitor student behavior, and have volunteer sign-ups. You can also upgrade for $10 a month and be able to print even history, caption photos, premium support, unlimited text messages, bulk media downloads, and more. The teacher can contact parents or students through email or text on this communication tool. 

To use this tool, I created my class by searching for my school, naming my class, and adding my students by name. Then I created my first message and added parents by phone number and email. I was also able to customize if I wanted communication to be only with myself and students, myself and parents, myself with students and parents, or I could allow communication between students, which I did not allow. The parents I sent the message to received the message promptly and was able to download the app on their phones so they can always respond even on the go. 

I would definitely use this tool in my classroom. It is very easy to navigate and it allows me to not be tied down to my computer to communicate with my class. I also love that I can track and allow parents to also monitor student behavior. Many parents are busy and on the go these days and a tool like this allows flexibility and thoroughness with its many features. 

Assessment Tool

    The assessment tool I explored today was Blooket. Blooket is a learning platform that allows teachers to create or host games through question sets and allow students to answer the questions on their own devices. It is assessment centered and allows students to receive points when they answer questions correctly, and they can use these points to buy and sell 'Blooks'. The site is free and includes unlimited sets and edits, unique game modes, and up to 60 players. You can also upgrade for $2.99 to Plus which includes, enhanced game reports, early event access, student bonus tokens, and up to 300 players. You can also upgrade to Plus Flex which allows you to pay monthly and cancel whenever you want for $4.99. 

Blooket!

    Using Blooket I created an 18-question game on weather. Students will have 20 seconds on each question and the questions are both short answer and multiple choice. I learned how fun and simple it is to use these learning tools. All instructions were very easy to follow, and it also allowed me to have creative control with the questions I wanted to include.

    I will definitely continue to use this learning platform in the future. Children love to be competitive and this site feeds that interest and also teaches them at the same time. If there are teachers who have students who seem to be bored with current study methods or are developing unhealthy study habits, I would recommend this site to jumpstart a new excitement for the learning process. Our students love to win big and reach their goals and as educators we love to watch them rise to the occasion, and this can help bring educator and student together in a newfound way. 

The Exercise of Blogging

 Blogging is an online journal that is located on a website. People use blogs to voice their opinions on certain topics or to inform people on topics that interest them or they're currently learning about. It is an opportunity for a person to express their thoughts or share information they have on a certain subject, and it allows people to share their ideas on the topic as well, making collaboration and the exchanging of ideas possible. Blogs can be very dynamic. They are constantly changing, whereas a website mostly contains the same information at all times. Furthermore, anyone with access to a computer and Wi-Fi can blog. It is a place for people to express their ideas and open up the floor to learn more through the comment section where viewers of your blog can add to the discussion. Teachers can use blogs to get more personal with their students. It can be a place where students get to know their teachers and their peers more closely. Teachers can also use blogs to exchange ideas with their students in a more comfortable way, and it can allow teachers to present different instructional topics in a way that is more engaging to the students. 

Blogging can open doors to so many ideas. 

 I would definitely use blogging in my classroom in the future. I would use it as way for students to get to know me better and each other by posting about ourselves and our own interests. I would also post about various topics we will be discussing in the classroom and allow my students to comment or offer suggestions on those topics to exchange ideas amongst themselves. Blogging can be a great way to break the ice with your students and make them feel like their voices matter in the classroom. Which can make them more confident in class and more inclined to succeed.