Edtech tools to engage your students

Hello friends, and welcome to another article, technically speaking. Today I will share with you several tools you can use to engage your students in creating content for the class. During this time of need, we must provide our students with choice and voice and show what they know in different ways. So, without further ado, let's jump into some edtech tools that will allow your students to create and conquer their knowledge!

Adobe spark

With Adobe Spark, students can create website pages, posts, videos, graphics, collages, presentations, and more. I enjoy using Adobe Spark to create videos and informative pages. Students can start from scratch or use a template and create a beautifully designed product. For example, in my college course, students use Adobe Spark to create an about me video. They bring their teaching philosophy to life through images, video, music, and words. It is an excellent way for them to stand out on their digital portfolios. I have created Adobe Spark pages for book study questions, reviews, and resources for my students. For an example, check out this one about a five-day teaching philosophy teaching challenge: https://spark.adobe.com/page/N9Ax834fu5kbP/.

Wakelet

Wakelet has been around for a while, but I just caught the wakelet wave this summer. This is a fantastic tool for collecting and sharing resources with your class. I use Wakelet as a space for students to find content related to class, and they use it to learn. I have used Wakelet to engage my students during class. For example, instead of presenting different court cases and laws related to special education via PowerPoint, I assigned a pair of students a case, and they created a wakelet about it. With Wakelet, students can collaborate on the topic and add images, links, videos, PDFs, text, and more. They then presented their wakelets to the large group. This was an excellent way for students to dive deeper into a content area and share their knowledge. It was also a more engaging way for them to learn the topics. After creating and presenting their content, they shared their wakelets to study for an upcoming test. To see an example Wakelet check out this one about self-care https://wke.lt/w/s/W3KaSS.

Flipgrid

This tool is excellent for students to show their knowledge because they can make a video based on a prompt! With Flipgrid, you must set up a group (or a class) and a topic for your students to respond to. After that, you share the code with your class, and students can respond via video with the click of a button. They can record themselves speaking, or they can record the screen of their device. This tool allows for flexibility and a way for students to demonstrate their knowledge in new ways. For more information on flipgrid, check out https://www.sfecich.com/post/you-ll-flip-for-flipgrid.

With any tech tool you try, friends, I recommend you try one tool and master it. Try it with your students and see how it goes. Take small steps in adding these tools into your classroom. Remember that you can do this. Providing students different ways to engage in materials and show what they know will give them more opportunities to shine in your class.