2 Things To Do Right Now (Part 2): Start Small

By now I'm sure that everyone is on system overload from all of the digital resources that have been thrown around since this whole COVID-19 stuff began.  It seems that everywhere I looked there was how-to videos, blog posts, Twitter chats and more about all the different digital tools out there.  Honestly, I've been feeling system overload too!  I've talked to so many teachers over the summer as they have come through blended and online learning training sessions, and I think the biggest thing I have heard is how overwhelmed they all feel.  Believe me. I get it!  Many of the teachers I've worked with are trying to learn a new LMS, plan for both online and in person learning as well as figure out how to incorporate digital tools to make learning fun and engaging.  So, you might be wondering - What was my advice to these teachers?  Start small.  

It seems so easy, but it is so true.  Start small.  Don't feel like you have to learn everything in one day or even in one week.  Learn one thing at a time until you get good at it and feel comfortable with it.  Then you can move on to the next thing.  Believe it or not, your students will appreciate this tactic as well.  It's hard for students to constantly be learning to use new technologies, new logins and new procedures every day.  So, take a deep breath and give yourself permission to have the gift of time to learn while you start small.

I know what you are thinking.  Thanks for the advice, but I still feel overwhelmed because I have no idea where to start.  Let's take a look at a few tools that can get you started.  

First, if you are not totally comfortable with the LMS you are using, you should definitely start there.  In

fact, you might even be wondering what does LMS mean.  An LMS is a learning management system. This would be a tool like Canvas.  If you don't even know how to post things in your district LMS, then there is no sense in learning other tools such as Flipgrid, Padlet or some other cool new tool. If you need help getting started with Canvas, Google Classroom or Seesaw, check out our LMS Specific Resources Page for how-to videos and help documents to get you started.

Once you have mastered your chosen LMS, then you can move on to some other tools that can add some additional engagement to your online course work.  A few of my favorites that are easy to master, but can have many uses are Padlet, Vocaroo and Screencasting.  

Padlet is a great tool that is like using sticky notes with an online bulletin board.  There are so many

different ways to configure the board that it makes it so versatile.  The more I use this tool, the more I think of new ways to use it.  A few ways that I have seen it used is as a graphic organizer, a brainstorming board, a way to give feedback, KWHLAQ, a place to post and vote on book trailers, a repository for resources and so much more.  If you are ready to take the plunge and try out Padlet, check out our Padlet how-to video.

Vocaroo may seem like a simple tool, but once again if you think outside the box, there are tons of ways to use it.  Vocaroo is a tool that lets you record audio online.  The thing that makes this tool stand out is that you don't need to create an account and it's so easy to use.  You simply record and save and Vocaroo

generates a link to your audio recording just like that.  This tool is especially useful for early elementary teachers and students who may not be able to read yet.  Teachers can easily create audio directions to go along with any assignment in just a few clicks.  This program is so easy that you could even teach your students as young as kindergarten to use the recording feature in order to make it easier for you to hear students reading or even to collect audio responses for assignments.  Now don't rule this out if you teach older kids because this is always a great tool to use for students that need oral administration of tests or even to add to assignments so you can give some extra context through audio.  If you are interested in learning more about Vocaroo, check out our Vocaroo how-to video.

Finally, let's take a look at one of my favorite things - screencasting.  Screencasting is when you use some type of software to record your screen and your voice at the same time.  Most screencasting tools also allow you to use your webcam and have your own video appear as well. In fact, the how-to videos that are

linked in this blog post were all created with screencasting software.  There are many different types of screencasting software out there - some that are really expensive and others that are free.  Let's take a look at a free tool that I really like.  Screencast-o-matic is a free screencasting tool that you can use to create your own short teaching videos to post online for your students.  All you need to get started is something you want to share on your screen such as a Google Slides, a page in your LMS, an assignment you want to explain or anything else that you might want to use in a lesson and you'll be ready to go.  To learn more about using Screencast-o-matic, check out our Screencast-o-matic how-to video.

Remember to start small.  Choose one tool at a time to focus on and continue to grow your online tool belt each week.

2 Things to Do Right Now (Part 1)

Who would have ever thought at this time last year that we would be living in a completely different world that we could have ever imagined.  We've been working on moving towards blended and online scenarios in our classrooms, but suddenly last March we were thrust into a completely virtual teaching and learning environment.  Teachers are flexible, resilient and hard workers so we banded together and we all survived the spring of 2020.  I know as May drew near, we all had high hopes of being able to return to a more normal version of school this fall, but it does not appear that will happen.  Here in Texas most teachers are being tasked with teaching both in person while at the same time providing asynchronous learning for their at-home learners.  On top of that, many schools have decided to start out completely virtual while others could end up remote at any moment if COVID-19 rears its ugly head on their campus.  Right now fear and anxiety are running rampant making it hard to figure out just where to get started. 

Over the next couple days, let's take a look at 2 things you can be doing right now to set yourself up for success when schools starts no matter how that may look.  We'll start with the first one today.

A top priority no matter how school looks should always be creating strong relationships with both your students and their families.  In this day of COVID, having that strong relationships and support from families will be such a benefit.  The problem is, how do you make this happen when you might not have an opportunity to meet your students and parents in person.  One easy solution for this is to create an introductory video of yourself.  In the video, tell them any pertinent information about yourself that you want to share, information about your class and how to contact you.  Your video can be as simple as using your phone to record yourself or you can make it more complex by showing some accompanying slides on your screen and recording a screencast video with your picture in it.  

Check out our tutorial on Screencast-O-Matic to learn more about screencasting. 

If you want to take this up one more notch, consider using a tool such as Flipgrid.  By using Flipgrid, you can add your introductory video to the grid and also have your students add their own introductory videos to the grid.  This will help everyone put a face and a voice with a name and help to start building that online community.  You can even continue to use Flipgrid on a regular basis by asking a question of the week so that students are getting a steady dose of interactions with others where they get to see a face and hear a voice.  To learn more about getting started with Flipgrid, check out their Getting Started page.

You can also add in some synchronous activities such as a virtual Meet the Teacher time where you could invite parents and students to log in to Zoom or Google Meet to speak with you live.  This would be a great time to share expectations, give students and parents a tour of your LMS and answer any questions.  If you have families who are not able to join live, you can also record your session so that they can watch it later.  This is even helpful for families who were there live in case they wanted to rewatch a portion later to help answer a question.

Once school gets started and students start their online learning, a great way to help foster that relationship is by always trying to insert yourself into the online course as much as possible.  For example, when providing instructions for an assignment, consider adding in a video of yourself where you explain the directions to the students.  This will help students who are struggling to read, but it also helps students to see your face, hear your voice and get a deeper understanding of what they are supposed to do.  Another idea is to offer live office hours via Zoom or Google Meet a couple of times per week.  This is a great opportunity for students to ask questions or even just spend some time talking with you.

Even though it is more difficult to build relationships in the online environment, it is definitely possible.  Continue to think of ways that you can make connections with your students as you navigate the online world together.

What are some ways that you are going to be creating relationships in the online classroom?  Leave us a comment below.