Digital Tools for the Classroom
Where do you start when it comes to implementing digital tools in the classroom? Is there such a thing as the "best" tool to use? My personal opinion is... it depends. It depends on the purpose for using the digital tool. It depends on the age of students using the digital tool. It depends on the accessibility the students have to the digital tool. With so many factors contributing to the effectiveness of digital tools, it is important to do some research before implementing one into your classroom. Lucky for you, I took some time to look a little closer at one of the popular digital tools out there right now.
Seesaw
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| Media Source: Seesaw |
Seesaw is a FREE app that acts like a portfolio for students. Students complete activities which are posted in a community forum that allows their classmates to view, comment, and collaborate on each other's work. One of the awesome features of this app is that it acts as a communication tool between teachers, students, and families. Teachers can send messages to announcements or messages to students and families, and students and families can contact teachers. Another feature that makes this great for younger grades is the students are assigned QR codes which make logging into their accounts super easy and these QR codes can be reset at any time if needed. I really do think this digital tool could be a great addition to the classroom. However, there is one drawback to using Seesaw in the classroom.
To optimize the use of Seesaw in the classroom, students do need access to a digital device. In order for them to complete the activities, students need to login under their own accounts on their own devices. This allows them to post their work as well as comment on the work of their classmates. If these devices aren't available on a regular basis for students, it may become difficult to regularly used this digital tool. While teachers would still have the capability of posting family announcements and student work, students would not be able to interact with the digital tool.
If you are interested in finding out more, check out my screencast below to see Seesaw in action.
When I was in the classroom, I used SeeSaw to share student work. Whenever my students saw a posting from their parents, they got very excited and happy to see that their parents were viewing their work. I really enjoy this app, as it gives parents the opportunity to see what their children are learning at school. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole! I have seen the use of SeeSaw's when I was a teacher resident helping out in a kindergarten classroom. I really liked that parents had access and that they could see what their child was doing at school, in real time! I think this could definitely be difficult if schools are not 1:1, unless the classroom has an iPad. Even still, this could be tricky! I think one solution could be to have a techie student take pictures for the class.
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole! I have seen the use of SeeSaw when I was a teacher resident helping out in a kindergarten classroom. I really liked that parents had access and that they could see what their child was doing at school, in real time! I think this could definitely be difficult if schools are not 1:1, unless the classroom has an iPad. Even still, this could be tricky! I think one solution could be to have a techie student take pictures for the class.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the refresher on Seesaw. I don't work with kids anymore so it's great to see how this program has continued to evolve!
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