Distance learning tools I’m actually using
I don’t know about you, but I am overwhelmed by the number of tools that are being shown to teachers during this time. Rather than trying every new tool out there, I am sticking to the ones I know and only adding what is necessary to make distance learning effective.
My school district runs on Google. Our students and staff all have Google accounts to which everything syncs to, so using Google Classroom is the mandatory interface for distance learning. I have been using Google Classroom for several years and I am happy that they continue to add new features. One thing that helps me is color coding my classes so I can easily tell which preps are which. I also use this as my assignment hub/ turn in location. All work that my students do gets published here as an assignment, even if they actual work is completed somewhere else. I pretty much only use online learning tools that sync with Google Classroom which makes assignments and grading so much easier.
This is a screenshot of my work in progress Google Site. This is new for me this year, but I felt it was necessary because there is no textbook for the course I teach. I need a place where I can keep everything for my class and Google Classroom, while wonderful for what it does, is not great for this. The feed can get easily overloaded and students struggle to find things. I am going to use my site to organize all of that and keep Google Classroom for the actual assignments. You can link your Google Site on your Google Classroom easily so students and parents can find it.
I started an Instagram account just for my students when school shut down back in March. One, because I needed a way to connect with them since we didn’t have live lessons, and two, because I know they use it. I have a few rules for this account: 1) I do not follow the students back or look at their accounts, 2) the account is public for transparency with students and parents, 3) I keep this strictly for school. I will post fun things like school appropriate literary memes, but I also remember what this account is for. I made the story template above the other day so that I will be able to utilize Instagram to keep students in the loop each week. Since I already spend a decent amount of time on Instagram, this is an easy way to connect for me.
Peardeck is one tool that I learned about recently that I do want to use. Essentially, it is an add-on that allows you to make your Google Slides presentations interactive by giving students prompts and allowing different types of student responses when you show them the presentation using Peardeck. I have not yet tried this with students, but I am excited about this new tool for distance learning.
CommonLit has been a staple in my classroom for the last few years. The library of texts on CommonLit is extensive and each story, poem, or article that you assign your students comes with multiple choice and free response questions, as well as discussion questions for teachers to use with the class. The multiple choice questions get auto-graded, so all you have to do is grade the free response questions using their tap to grade rubric that makes it super easy and fast. All of this syncs grades with Google Classroom and gives you detailed reports on how your students are doing. It is one of my favorite resources for ELA teachers and it is 100% free!
Okay, I am like the worst when it comes to teaching grammar. Not that I don’t have the skill for it, but I just don’t like it because the students find it boring no matter what I do. A colleague told me about NoRedInk a few years ago and I like that it allows me to incorporate grammar instruction without spending a lot of time and resources doing so. Students only have to do assignments based on what they personally don’t know, which is so helpful. The biggest issue I have with grammar instruction is that my students are at 20 different levels and if I am taking time to instruct on an issue some students are having, the other half are bored to tears. This is an easy way to scaffold and do personalized instruction. Again, it gives detailed reports on how your kiddos are doing and syncs to Google Classroom. Win!
I discovered Screecastify in March when I needed a way to record my screen and me talking for the video lessons I did (we didn’t have live lessons). Although we will now have live lessons when school starts on the 31st, I am mentioning this tool because I think it could be great if you need to record a video lesson for a sub or anything else. It is very easy to use!
Padlet is like a big online white board. You can design the Padlet to have lots of different looks depending on what you are teaching. The screenshot above is a public Padlet because all of mine have my students info on them. If your kids log in with their school Google accounts, it automatically uses their info when they post to the Padlet so you know who is saying/ doing what. Students can post text like in the one above, and/ or photos, videos, links, and more. They can also respond to each other. I have used them for brainstorms, prompt responses, discussion questions, get to know you activities, and more. With the free version, you can only have a certain number of Padlets active at one time, but I just archive them when we are done with them. I may look into the paid version now that we are doing distance learning and will likely need this tool more.
I know there are so many more tools out there, but like I said, I think it is important to find a few that work for you and use them well. You don’t want you or your students to feel like they have to remember a million different tools and websites. Almost all of these sync with Google Classroom, so students only have to remember their Google login, and then they can use any of these tools that I link to from there.
What are you using to make distance learning work for you and your students?
