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.

The Easiest Tool You'll Ever Use!

When thinking about today's tool, I was thinking I wish I had an Easy Button to push.  Then I remembered that YouTube exists so here's your very own digital Easy Button.  Feel free to push it after trying out today's spotlight tool.

Today I want to share a really powerful but incredibly easy tool called Vocaroo.  Vocaroo only does one thing - record audio.  When you first look at the Vocaroo website, it seems so simple that it couldn't possibly be very useful.  At first glance it does seem that way.  I can click the record button and record.  So what?  I can do that on my phone too.  What's the big deal?

I'll tell you what the big deal is.  The power comes from the combination of the simplicity of using the tool combined with the ease of sharing out the recorded audio.  This tool is so easy that I recommend it to kindergarten and first grade teachers all the time, but it can still be a useful tool in the upper grades.  Let's take a look at what happens after you finish recording to see the power of this tool in action.  

Once you finish recording your audio and click save, this awesome option bar appears.  Notice that you don't have to download the audio or manipulate it or anything else.  Now with just one click I can share this audio straight to my audience by posting the link, using the embed code or opening up the QR code.  If you really want to, you can also download your audio file.

Now that we see how easy this tool is to use, let's talk about all the great ways that we can use it in classrooms.  How awful is it to wake up early in the morning and realize that you are too sick to go to school that day?  I know for me it was always harder to make sub plans than to just go to school.  Now, you could just click open Vocaroo, record instructions for your students for each activity you want them to do, pop the links into an email and now your sub can simply play your audio file so that you can explain to your students what they should be doing.  How awesome is that!  Another way that I've seen teachers using this tool is to record students.  Think about elementary teachers who have to do fluency checks or running records.  Sometimes its hard to fit all of those in during the day.  Now you can set up a center and teach students how to record themselves.  Then they can simply copy the link and paste it to a Padlet or Seesaw or other tool.  How many of you are doing things such as book clubs or PBL with your students where they work in groups?  Don't you wish you could hear all of their great conversations (and sometimes maybe not so great)?  Now you can.  Have each group record their group discussion with Vocaroo and turn in the link via Google Classroom or Seesaw when they finish.  There are so many other options such as creating audio for listening centers, having students record an audio of their writing to share with parents and even creating audio announcements to email home to parents.

Vocaroo is such an easy tool to use.  I feel confident that you'll be up and going in just a matter of minutes.  Watch the short video below to learn more about using Vocaroo and get started enhancing your classroom with audio today!

Let us know how you are using Vocaroo in your classroom by sharing a comment below.