Zondle

Zondle.com is a website which allows teacher to create online flashcards/games with their own content.

Positives

• Free
• Allows for personalization of topics
• Engaging games
• Teachers can monitor student performance
• Games can be embedded in teacher websites

Concerns

• Pretty low on Blooms list

Learning Resources

• zondle.com 
• Zondle in under 10 minutes

Kahoot

Teacher Login: getkahoot.com
Student Login: kahoot.it

Tips

• Try in small groups to make sure network connection can handle the activity
• Be selective when playing the music. The music can make the activity a little intense. 
• Don't over dwell on the scoreboard. 
• If students get kicked out they can sign back in no problem. It will not remember their previous points.  You may want to write the pin on the board for easy access when student do get kicked out. 

Unwrapping the Standards

Unwrapping the Standard Template

Setting Up New Contact Groups

As we start a new year many teachers will want to create new email contact groups for their students and parents. Gina Rogers, GWAEA Tech Consultant created a short video detailing a quick way of collecting email addresses, and creating a contact group using google forms. 

Basic Steps

1. Create google form asking for email address and other relevant information. 
2. Copy submitted email addresses.
3. Compose an email and paste addresses in the To section.
4. Click on the word To and Save As Group. Next you will be prompted to give your group a name.
5. Now when you compose an email or share a document simply type the name of your group in the To section and send to all participants in the group. 

Application

I am not sure what systems you have in place for collecting email addresses, but here is a friendly idea to consider. Create a google form requesting the information you are interested in collecting from students and parents. Open the google form on an ipad or computer and make the device available during open house, or the first day of school. You might also consider creating a QR code which parents and students can scan for access to the google form. 

Brain Breaks - GoNoodle

Many teachers have incorporated brain breaks into their daily routine. One popular brain break activity is using just dance videos from youtube. Kids love these activities and it gives them an opportunity to get up and move around. Today I learned about gonoodle.com a website that offers fun engaging brain break activities. GoNoodle does require users to set up a free account to access all material. Also if you have an adblocker set up in your browser you will want to give GoNoodle permission for popup windows. GoNoodle allows you to assign points based on your class performance. If you are looking for alternatives to Just Dance Videos I invite you to check out GoNoodle.com.

Britannica School

One of my goals as a Learning Design Coach is to provide teacher and students with resources that will provide efficient student centered learning. As I visit classrooms across the district I see different research projects in action. I was recently reminded of Britannica School, an online Encyclopedia provided by Iowa AEA Online. This is a great tool which provides a wealth of information for any research project. It offers videos, images and text at various reading levels. In addition, students can choose to have the text read aloud. This website works on both computers and iPads. I encourage you to check it out the next time you are planning a project which involves research or searching for information online.

Britannica School

NWEA MAP Test Reports

Over the past couple of weeks students in our district have been busy completing the NWEA's MAP tests. As students finish up I have several questions running through my mind.

1. What are we doing with those assessment results?
2. Do teachers know about the different reports available from NWEA? 
3. What is the best way to educate teachers concerning the different reports? 
4. Who in our district is helping teachers access and understand these reports?
5. What reports have teachers found particularly helpful?  

Unfortunately, I don't know the answers to many of these questions. One report I have heard teachers talking about is the Goal Setting Report. I have found that when this report is used students seem to be more engaged and motivated as they take the tests. Others are using the Lexile levels obtained from the test results to guide students in picking books at their reading level. I am confident there are many more ways teachers are using the reports and I would love to hear feedback on how these reports are being used to guide instruction in the classroom. 

If you are someone in the Mid-Prairie or Keota District who does not know how to access these reports or you would like to talk about possible ways to use the data to guide your instruction, please know that I am available to help.