Skip to main content

Technology Collaboration/ Communication Must-Haves for Educators

By

Collaboration is the key to clear communication and cooperative learning.  Educators not only need to encourage collaboration in their students, but it is so great to learn from others through building professional learning networks and collaborating outside the classroom/school walls.  So, I'm sharing my favorite resources to encourage collaboration and communication. If you have a favorite, please feel free to share yours in the comments!


Google Drive/Apps for EDU (obviously) - With all the products in Google Drive and the Apps for EDU suite (Docs, Slides, Forms, Sheets, Drawings, Sites, etc.) there is no reason not to collaborate on a daily basis. The easy to use Share button is the key to collaboration and communication!
Smore - An easy to use newsletter/flyer creator. However, it isn't your usual newsletter, it's all virtual.  You don't print a Smore, you send it out via email.  You can embed links, images, and videos into your Smore. I love this site!!  

Lucid Press - Not a graphic designer?  That's OK! You don't need to be one when you use Lucid Press. Easy to use templates for newsletters, brochures, flyers, etc.  You can add collaborators to your project so multiple people can work on it and then, share it out to your colleagues, parents, or students.  Lucid press is the companion to Lucid Chart, which is also a great collaborative chart maker.


Canva - Another easy project maker where no graphic design experience is necessary! Create cards, brochures, flyers, and more! Great art included to just drag and drop into your projects!


Today's Meet - My "go-to" backchannel for collaborating!  You can use this during meetings for questions or comments to the topic.  You can use it in class for students to post questions or expand on the topic.  The great thing is you can save the transcript for everyone to refer back to or for those who missed out on the conversation.  There's now a paid version just for educators. If this is something that you use on a regular basis, it may be worth it to upgrade. 
Poll Everywhere - Quick, easy, polling tool for meetings and classes.  Just post a question and have everyone vote.  It has open ended questioning available, too! 



Padlet - Create a board and have others post to it via virtual sticky notes!  Great brainstorming idea or a way to get resources available on the web for easy access.
Dotstorming - My NEW favorite site for collaboration!  Everyone can post their ideas and you can even have a vote on the best ideas! You can even import a Pinterest board for ideas and voting ideas. Why not start Dotstorming now?
Remind - Available in either web or app form.  Post reminders to staff, parents, students, etc. in an fast and easy way.  Just create your groups and have the members join your group.  It will send texts from you without ever needing to collect phone numbers or share out your own phone number (it will text from a Remind created phone number).  Individual messaging is now available, too!



One Tab (Google Chrome Extension) - Want to share a lot of URLs with parents, students, or fellow colleagues?  Then use One Tab!  It will take all of your open tabs and put them in one easy to use link to share.

  • Aren't using Google Chrome???  Why not??  Just kidding!  If you're not using Google Chrome, you can do the same thing with Link Bunch.

Twitter - Our district will be starting a 20-Day Twitter Challenge beginning November 9th, 2015 to show the power of Twitter for an educational must-have!  Share your learning, curate from others, spread the love of education!




There are so many more ways to collaborate and communicate online!  Please share your favorites!  I will definitely need to make a new post with even more resources very soon!





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SAMR and Google ~ A Beautiful Combination

By
I've been really investigating the SAMR model lately.  If you aren't familiar with the SAMR for integrating technology into the classroom, that's ok.  I first learned about it last year at a conference.  I went to a breakout session and came out more confused than when I went in.  So, I took it upon myself to learn about it through researching it online. The SAMR model is this:  Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition The more I investigated, the more I realized that our district needs to really look at where we are on this model.  Yes, we are a Google for Education district!  Yes, all students and teachers have access to Google Drive!  But, NO, we are not redefining education with technology. One day I was inspired by a fellow Google for Education trainer to really look at how we can use Google Drive to redefine our lessons.  So, I created the graphic below with ideas on how to use Google Drive and other Google pr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Contraction Mania!

By Unknown
This week our first grade team analyzed some Fountas and Pinnell level G books to figure out what needed to be taught in reading to help our students get to that level.  We realized that many of the books contained contractions and words with inflected endings.  Our first plan of action was to immerse students in a word study of contractions. So, this week I introduced the word "contractions" to my class.  I first wrote the word on a piece of chart paper and had them turn and talk and try to tell their partners what the word was.  It was funny listening to them talk to each other.  After about a minute I had them turn back and tell me what they discussed.  I called on one child who then said, "We decided that we don't know what a contraction is."  Then, the rest of the class agreed with him.  I just had to chuckle at that.  It was so cute!  Then, I introduced contractions to the kids slowly using paint sample cards that I had made in a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Micro:bits for 7th graders

By
We were very fortunate to have received micro:bits from the Economic Development Council of St. Charles County for our 7th grade Project Lead the Way course (Design and Modeling).  Our students shined in their coding of the micro:bit and tried to create a game or device that would be good for a student with cerebral palsy (which is what they have been learning about in their PLTW course).  Students made light boxes, rock paper scissors bracelets, music devices, reaction time devices, and more! If you haven't heard of micro:bits, let me tell you a "bit" about them.  They are small programmable devices that have an LED screen with buttons on one side that can be programmed.  Other small devices can be attached via alligator clips and programmed as well.  For more information about micro:bits go to their website:   https://support.microbit.org/support/solutions/articles/19000013983-what-is-a-micro-bit- Using the programs already on the micro:bit website or...
Post a Comment
Read more