Blended Learning General Tools

For Grades K-5

By Wendy Torres

Seamless connection
between online and
offline work
Increased Student-
Collaboration and
control over:
time
pace
place or path of
learning
Online classroom
presence
Repurposed time
Hallmarks of blended learning:
Online classroom presence
http://blendspace.com http://lessonpaths.com
http://www.symbalooedu.
com
http://zunal.com
https://www.thinglink.com
/edu
http://tizmos.com
Blendspace
This site enables the teacher to
add content, assessments, and
tracking information in one
central location for students to
access. Blendspace gives
teachers the ability to
individualize and customize
lesson content to suit specific
needs of their students.


How to
use
Video!
Benefits of using Blendspace
Its FREE!
24 hour access:
Works on all
browsers(can
work on any
device)
Allows teachers
the ability to
utilize the
publishing
sharing
capabilities of
the Internet
Students dont
need a
username or
password to
access content:
just need the
url
Click and drag
interface: easy
to use
For older
students, you
could have them
provide
comments on
content and
answer quiz
questions if you
want( that does
require a
username and
password)
Lessonpaths
With lessonpaths, you can add content,
assessments, and tracking information in
one central location for students to
access. The way lessonpaths operates is
that it allows you to view and create
playlists which consists of links to online
content correlated to a specific topic. Each
piece of content added to a playlist is
called a step and one navigates between
steps by clicking on left or right arrow
icons on the screen. When you add a
step you add content by either adding a
direct url link, uploading a file, writing direct
text into a word processing box, or creating
a pop quiz. Your playlists can contain as
many steps as you want.

How to
use
Video!
Its FREE!
24 hour access: Works on
all browsers(can work on
any device)
Allows you to see content
one page at a time
Students dont need a
username or password to
access content: just need
the url
A playlist can have as
many steps as needed
Each step gets its own url
You can navigate between
steps as needed
For older students, you
could have them provide
comments on content and
answer quiz questions if
you want( that does require
a username and password)
You can control the
content, and
who views/edit it.
Benefits of using Lessonpaths
Symbaloo is an online tool that allows you to
organize your favorite websites in one
location. Using symbaloo, you can
categorize your websites so that they are
organized according to
subject/content. Each category is called a
webmix. You can have as many webmixes
as you want. Webmixes can be public or
private. Public webmixes can be found in
the symbaloo gallery, private webmixes do
not show up in the gallery, but can be
shared via a url link. Only people who have
that link can see the webmix. Students do
not need an account to view
any webmix. Accounts are required to edit
and add content to a mix. Webmixes can
also be embedded into your website.
Symbalooedu
How to
use
Video!
Benefits of using Symbaloo
Its FREE!
24 hour access:
Works on all
browsers(can work
on any device)
No more misspelled urls,
or students getting to
inappropriate sites. They
only go to the sites you
have selected!
Students dont need
a username or
password to access
content: just need the
url.
Minimize distractions
and keep young
students focused.
You can have as
many webmixes as
you like with one
account!
Visual thumbnails
proven more
attractive to kids.
Click here to see an example of a webmix I created about online comic creators.
Zunal
Zunal.com provides
teachers templates for
creating webquests
quickly.
Click here to
find out more
about
webquests..
Sure would be nice to
see an example of one.
Click here to see an
example.
Thinglinkedu
Thinglink is an online tool
that lets you add online
resources to an existing
image. In other words,
this tool allows you to
upload an image and
then you can add any
online resource-
including pictures,
websites, music and
videos-to that still image.
So, with this tool, a single
image becomes an
interactive information
board!


People learn by employing effective and flexible
strategies that help them to understand, reason,
memorize, and solve problems.
-One of the principles of Personalized Learning
Brains deal with images differently than with
print.
-Hall Davidson of the Discovery Learning
Network
Visual media raises student achievement.
-Hall Davidson of the Discovery Learning
Network
Why use Thinglink?
Its
Free!
You can create
thinglinks and then
share the url with
students/parents. Students
do not need to have an
account.
They only need an
account if you want them
to create, edit, and add
content.( This is a great
option for older students).


One of the best things
about this tool is that is
easy and versatile, so it
can be used with a variety
of student audiences.

I deas for using Thinglink:
There are many
ways that thinglink
can be used in the
classroom!

Click on the book to access a presentation created
by Donna Baumbach-another fellow educator- that
contains over 81 different ways that you can incorporate
this tool. All the ideas were submitted by other educators
who have used this tool in their classrooms.

General Video tools for Grades K-5
Online Video Tools
http://www.watchknowl
earn.org/
http://viewpure.com
http://safeshare.tv/ http://learnzillion.com
While being able to use youtube to share
videos with our students is great, the
problem with youtube is that there often
advertisements, inappropriate comments
and links to other videos. These extras
can be distracting and look
unprofessional during a presentation.
With viewpure and safeshare.tv, you
simply copy and paste the youtube link
into the text box and then click on the
create/generate link buttons. Then you
will get a unique url link for the video.
You can use that link when you
project AND you can also send the link
along to students so they can view the
video from home without seeing any
inappropriate comments, advertisements
or other videos.

Viewpure
Safeshare
Videos
without
the
extras!
Watchknowlearn
Watchknowlearn is an
online source that allows
you to search for
educational video content
and allows you to house
that content in one location.
This is a great site because
who has time to go through
all the junk on youtube for a
video that might be a good
fit for your classroom? What
makes this site unique is
that you can filter your
search result so that the
videos you find are very
specific. You can filter the
results by age and subject
matter.

Benefits of using Watchknowlearn
Its FREE!
24 hour access:
Works on all
browsers(can work
on any device)
Saved lesson
planning time: No
more wasting time
on youtube seeing
if a video MIGHT be
useful for class
Students dont
need a username
or password to
access content:
just need the url
There is also a
section that has
videos broken
down by grade,
subject and
common core
standards.
Founded by two former teachers in 2011,
LearnZillion offers a free and growing set of
math and English Language resources for
grades 2-12 that combines short video
lessons, assessments, playlists, and
progress reports. These videos provide
grade-level appropriate, conceptual, visual
explanations that can be used by both kids
and adults. Each lesson focuses on a
specific sub-standard, and can be organized
by teachers into custom playlists for
students.

Teachers use LearnZillion videos and
resources for everything from whole class
instruction to small group and independent
work, as well as for homework assignments
and to enable parents to help support
student learning at home.

Learnzillion


How it works:
You create a free teacher account and after you sign up
for an account, you can browse through the different
lessons. When you click on a lesson, you have the option
of downloading the material so you can adapt it as you
see fit to meet the needs of your students. You can also
download printable resources that go along with the video
lesson. You can share the video lesson on an LCD
screen and/or you can also assign the lesson to a class-so
students can do it in the computer lab or at home.
How do students access the lessons you assign:

If you want the students to access the content so they can do
it on individual computers, there are two ways that students
can access the lesson you have assigned. (With login
information or without login information)

With login information: When you add students, it will give you
an enrollment code. Students click on the student login page,
copy and paste the enrollment code, and then come up with a
username and password. After that they have access to any
lessons you have assigned.

Without login information: If you dont want your students to
have login information, you can get a quick code from a
lesson. The students would then put their quick code in, and
the lesson will show up on their screen.
Learnzillion
Having
students
access video
lessons
With login information:
Students can access
multiple lessons you have
assigned and you can get
progress reports and
grades.
Without login
information(quick code)
Students can access one
lesson at a time. A different
quick code is provided for
each lesson. You cant
access progress reports or
grades using this method.
Its great
that you can
download
the videos
as
powerpoints
and adapt
them to suit
your needs.
Thousands of
video resources
for FREE!
Yeah, and it
is always
available
because it is
online!
Discussion, collaboration
tools for K-5
IBOARD
Thoughts/Reflections
IBOARD My
Learning
http://padlet.com/ and
http://primarywall.com/
http://en.linoit.com/ https://todaysmeet.com
http://kidblog.org
http://titanpad.com/ and
http://primarypad.com
http://www.collaborizeclassroom.com/
This tool is free, simple to use and can
be used to allow younger students a fun,
engaging way to formulate and share
their thoughts about an issue.

With this site you can get student
feedback. This resource can be used
when you would like pupils to state their
thoughts or opinions. The text frames
automatically shrink the font as the
students type, so the resource is suitable
for simple statements or longer
explanations. Text frames can be
presented as captions, speech bubbles
or thought bubbles. With this site,
students can also edit an avatar to
represent themselves.
IBOARD:
Thoughts and
Reflections
Great
tool for
K-2
students!
The main thing you would
have to be concerned with
is the students' ability to
type content as students type at
different paces dependently on
their level of exposure to
keyboarding.
Teachers may want the
students to write down their
answers first prior to typing
but that is up to individual
teacher discretion and
judgment.

This tool can be used by
students in groups, or on
individual computers. It
could be used as pre-
assessment, during activity
or post assessment
assignment.

A free activity for children to reflect on
and celebrate their learning
achievements.
A simple but powerful activity - children
can record their learning achievements
on the screen by adding images. Sound
support included. Also, the child can
personalize the face!

Students can pick between two word
prompts: I can and I am learning
to They can click on the images and
drag them on the circle. They can also
type labels to describe what they are
learning or are to do.

IBOARD:My
Learning
Great tool
for K-2
students!
My Learning
This is a great tool to use at
the beginning or ending of
units. Have students
celebrate their
achievements.

Use the print outs to create
class books or class bulletin
boards. Have students
share their learning boards
with each other.


Online chats and discussion boards are great
Web 2.0 tools that can be used as extensions
of the classroom. When these tools are used
effectively, they can be a valuable tool to use in
conjunction with the regular face to face
classroom.

Todaysmeet is a free, simple online chat tool
that was designed so that teachers or
presenters can receive feedback and
commentary. With todaysmeet, anyone with the
link to a discussion can participate in a live
chat.
This tool allows anyone with the URL for the
specific chat stream to join in, using short
(140 character) messages.
Participants can be in the same room or across
the globe, and no membership or log in is
required. The only "skill" needed is being able
to type.
You can print out transcripts of the chat forum.

Todays Meet
.

How to
use
Video!
Personally, I dont like using this tool to tap
into the backchannel. It can be distracting
trying to focus on a lesson, or presentation
while also viewing a chatroom to see what
others are saying. I have, however, used it with
my students as part of team
discussion/collaboration activities. This tool
gives every student a chance to provide
commentary and ask questions.
It is a great
tool for
collaborating
and
brainstorming,
though.
Oh, you could
also set up
question and
answer session
via virtual office
hours!
Students can
create
conversations
(chats) between
fiction or nonfiction
characters
speaking about
significant events
and then print
them out.
This tool can also
be used for
comparing and
contrasting..
This is a good tool
that students can
use to express
frustrations or need
for clarification on
topics.
Lino is a free web based service that allows you to
create digital corkboards where you canstick post
it notes. With lino, you can add post it notes, along
with pictures, videos, files and multimedia
presentations on a digital cork board. So at first
glance, it appears to be a nice site to share multiple
resources from one location.

Lino, however, is much more than just a content
sharing site. It provides teachers with a great way
to engage students in brainstorming and
collaboration activities online. For example,
teachers can provide a topic and allow students to
generate ideas and/or ask questions before they
begin prewriting. If the teacher chooses to, she can
create a corkboard that students can post
comments, images, and videos to. Teachers also
have the ability to can create groups and make
canvases (corkboards) private or public.

Lino
How to
use
Video!
Use it for brainstorming or collaboration
Use to help "flip" the content of your
classroom: Students can access the
canvas from home and then discuss the
content in class
Use a canvas as an electronic portfolio or
"showcase" of students' work
Use a canvas to share classroom news,
announcements or praises
Create a canvas of useful websites that
help reinforce content that students can
use at home for practice
Ideas for using Lino
To learn
more about
this tool click
here!
Padlet and primarywall are both tools that
allow you to create virtual walls/digital
bulletin boards.
Using padlet you can add post it notes,
along with pictures, videos, files and
multimedia presentations on a digital
board for free. You can create a free
account so you can edit and delete
walls as needed. Students do not need
a login to use the tool. They only need
the url to your wall. Walls can be public
or private.

Using primarywall, students can add
post it notes. Primarywall is the simpler
version of padlet. (pictures and links as
well as other features are available for
a fee.) Students do not need a login to
access the walls. They just need the
url. Walls are deleted after 30 days with
the free version.

Padlet
Primarywall
Click
here for
a video
on how
to use
padlet!
Use padlet
for grades
3-5.
Primarywall
for grades
K-2.
Great way to engage
students in
brainstorming.
Great for
collaboration or
getting feedback from
others.
Provide a topic and
allow students to
generate ideas and/or
ask questions.
Great for note-taking
Reflection: Ask a provoking
question at the beginning of a
unit then have students revisit
their answers at the end of the
unit. Do they still feel the same?
Why or why not?
Vocabulary review
Ideas for using Padlet or Primary wall
Click here
to see
more
examples!
Kidblog
Kidblog.org is designed for
elementary and middle school
teachers who want to provide
each student with their own,
unique blog.

Kidblog is simple to use, and
allow students to publish posts
and participate in discussions
within a secure classroom
blogging community. Teachers
maintain complete control over
student blogs.



It can be
accessed on
any device,
24/7.
The simple
interface
takes away
the
distractions
that come
with other
blogging
sites.
Use Kidblog to:
create classroom discussions
learn digital citizenship
practicing writing skills
create an e-portfolio
reflect on learning
formatively assess writing
Oh wow! I
just found
some
awesome
educational
videos
about
blogs!
Site
one
Site
two
Site
three

Titanpad
Primarypad



Titanpad and primarypad are web-based
word processors designed for schools that
allows pupils and teachers to work together
in real-time. Titanpad and primarypad are
almost the same thing except primarypad
does not include a chat feature and its
interface is simpler.
(meaning you cant import outside
documents. You can just type text.)
With both you can:
Easily create a new public document,
share the unique url, enter your name,
and begin writing.
Each collaborator receives their own
color, making it easy to track each
person's changes.
Note that in order to keep a working
document private, the url should not be
shared with those not involved in the
collaboration.(with a free account on
titanpad, you can make pads private)
Changes to the document are made in
real time.
Students do not need a login to access
the pads. Pads are deleted after some
time.


Click here
for a
tutorial on
how to
use
titanpad.
Ideas for use :
Collaborizeclassroom is a free, online
learning platform for teachers and
students to create structured
discussions in a private online
community. Students can expand on
discussions as well as interact with
online lesson plans that allow for
deeper participation inside and outside
the classroom.
This tool offers a variety of tools to
increase student engagement,
including multimedia uploading,
forums, and simple questionnaires.
Collaborizeclassroom
.

How to
use
Video!
This is a great tool
to use with 4
th

graders to 12
th

graders.



A word of advice before you use this tool:
The interface of this tool is easy and fairly user friendly.
However, due to the various options that you have
available with this tool, it is not a tool I would recommend
using with K-2 students. I have used discussion boards
with my Fifth graders and can see this as a wonderful tool
to use with Middle and Upper School students. In order
for students to use this service, they will either have to
registrar with an e-mail address or will have to create a
username and then request membership.



If you are going to use collaborizeclassroom or any other
discussion board forum you also need to teach your
students proper online communication rules. This
is because while our students are comfortable using
technology, they have to be directed how to use it. They
dont initially know how to do this.

*Below are some resources that can help you with this:
For grades 3-5:
http://www.brainpop.com/technology/computersandintern
et/digitaletiquette/
* For grades 5-8
* http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/hoodmari
ne-1086694-online-chatting-do-s-and-don-ts/

Collaborizeclassroom
Happy Blending!
Presentation created by Wendy Torres
Roland Park Country School
Technology Integration Specialist
Website: http://sp.rpcs.org/faculty/torresw
Blog: http://sp.rpcs.org/faculty/TorresW/techsnacks