Reflecting on 2015… Valuable Resources from Michael Gorman

Reflecting on 2015… Valuable Resources from

Michael Gorman oversees one-to-one laptop programs and digital professional development for Southwest Allen County Schools near Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He is a consultant for Discovery Education, ISTE, My Big Campus, and November Learning and is on the National Faculty for The Buck Institute for Education.  His awards include district Teacher of the Year, Indiana STEM Educator of the Year and Microsoft’s 365 Global Education Hero. Read more at21centuryedtech.wordpress.com.

Formative – Not all feedback tools are the same. Formative is one that teachers want to know more about once I have them try using it in a workshop. This is a tool that can be part feedback, part game, and part group brainstorming. Students can give feedback on their individual devices which can then be shared with the teacher. It works with just about any device. One of the best features includes the ability to “write out” or “draw up” the feedback. This ability provides one more way to differentiate learning. This is a great formative tool to check understanding and decide the next move for needed instruction.

Quizizz – If you are familiar with and use Kahoot, then you are bound to want to get to know another of the newest in game based quiz programs. Quizizz allows the teacher to bring the whole class into a competitive learning situation. Along with checking for student understanding, this program allows students to also reflect on how they answered a question. It is a great program, allowing teachers to decide on next steps for instruction while providing students the ability to gauge their progress along the journey in their own learning. Your students will actually be excited to take that next Quizizz!

Right Question Institute – Welcome to one of my favorite finds this year, even though this amazing organization has been around for some time. This is the right tool for teachers wanting to get their students deep in the inquiry process. At the Right Question Institute one can find some amazing resources that scaffold the inquiry process, allowing students to take ownership of inquiry.  The steps provided by The Right Question Institute  will help facilitate teachers as they prepare students for tests that go beyond memorization. The resources provided will assist students as they learn that the right questions can be even more powerful then providing answers.  This is a must have tool for educators facilitating that essential pathway along Bloom’s higher order thinking.

Better Lesson – This is a wonderful website that encourages teachers to share what works in a good lesson. As part of the Master Teacher Project, this site is committed to building a body of knowledge around authentic instructional practice. Over 16,000 lessons in the areas of Math, Science, and LA make up part of this wonderful collection. The site contains some wonderful blended learning possibilities including rich, comprehensive lessons and effective strategies contributed by teachers across the globe. Take a moment to discovery high interest inquiry based lessons that will engage students. Keep in mind that a Better Lesson will help bring about even Better Learning!

BIE – Have you discovered the new Project Based Learning Gold Standards introduced in the past year by BIE (The Buck Institute)?  If you have not discovered the authenticity and student driven emphasis that PBL (Project Based Learning) brings to learning, then now is the time to visit BIE. As you explore how BIE has expanded their Eight Essential Elements of PBL with their new Gold Standards, you will want to keep exploring all the other resources at BIE! At the BIE website educators will enjoy exploring video examples of PBL units, hundreds of projects, important research, and some powerful 21st Century Education Rubrics!

Powtoons – This tool allows for the creation of some wonderful animations that provide opportunities for deeper understanding.  While teachers can create a Powtoon to explain important content, students can even create their own Powtoons. What a wonderful way for students to produce and create content while providing an authentic way to show new understanding. This is a tool that will engage students for hours. Don’t be surprised if your students start making their own homework! Keep in mind that the learning curve is one that allows students to focus on content and not the technical application!

Graphite – This is another site that has been around for a while and continues to get better! The people at Common Sense Media (makers of Graphite) bring a collection of educator vetted apps. These powerful tools will fit into any teacher’s blended lesson plans. While exploring Graphite, be sure to check out the collection of Common Core Apps, rich with possibilities. In fact, another must visit area in Graphite is called Lesson Flows. This tool helps teachers create their own blended lesson using an online graphic organizer. The new Teacher Center provides a link to some of the best Lesson Flows made by teachers, and also some powerful teacher PD.

Prism – Welcome to an outside the box application that measures the wisdom of the crowd in reference to a particular reading. This powerful tools allows the teacher to provide students s selected reading on their device. While reading, and reflecting on the text of the reading, students are able to highlight the text in different colors representing their thoughts and understanding. In this process, teacher and students are able to view the entire groups thinking process in relationship to the reading and their understanding. It is a wonderful tool allowing a teacher to gauge understanding while also facilitating high level discussion. It really has the ability to bring group thinking and collaboration to a whole new level.

Keep in mind to always read the terms of agreement and privacy policies of any web tool before using with students. Also, be aware of your district AUP (Acceptable Use Policy). Check with district administration and get parent permission when needed. Always be certain to facilitate and model proper digital citizenship. Enjoy all the possibilities that web technology can bring to the classroom. Best of learning to all of you in 2016!