10 Mobile Tools to Support Blended Learning in Your K-12 Setting

Purpose & objective

K-12 instructors typically struggle to find new ways to promote communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creative expression with students as well as to provide students access to the resources and support they need. In this session, participants will be introduced to a variety of tools for communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creative expression. Participants will begin to explore and learn about a variety of tools from the presenters. Additionally, all participants will discuss how these tools can be used to increase student communication, collaboration, critical thinking and encourage creativity and choice to inspire curiosity.

The focus of this session will be MLN leaders demonstrating how these tools can be used to enhance the communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creative expression for students. A variety of examples from the presenters as well as examples from participants will be collected synchronously and provided during the session. Simply, we will share our experiences with these tools, invite participants to share their ideas and contribute to a collaborative document or backchannel communication tool to share with those in attendance.

Participants should be ready to explore innovative tools to better engage, inspire and reach learners in any course or level, and transform teaching through technology. Additionally, participants will create possibilities for student collaboration within the classroom and in a real-world setting in addition to communication outside the traditional classroom.

By exposing students to various technology tools, teachers will be able to provide more student voice and choice when designing projects and sharing their depth of knowledge about various learning standards. This is where true learning will take place for students.

Evidence of success will be when the collaborative document with specific curricular examples to promote communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creative expression are shared with those in attendance as well as the larger ISTE community.

Outline

The session will start with a brief overview of the content to be covered and introduction of presenters. (5 minutes)

During the session, each presenter will introduce, provide a general overview, demonstrate the functionality, and give several examples of how each tool can be used in one or more areas of communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creative expression. We will work through each of the tools presented, spending approximately 35 minutes of the session interacting with each tool and providing time for participants to explore on their own and discuss at their tables.

Participants will have time throughout the session to interact and share ideas, with a good portion of time reviewing examples and trying some of the different tools being presented. (35 minutes)

Presenters will interact with participants at their tables to brainstorm additional curricular ideas for how students can benefit from these tools or their applicability to professional development training. Each table will then add their ideas to the collaborative document. Time permitting a game may be included as part of the session. (15 minutes)

The remaining time will be reserved for questions and sharing ideas from the session. (5 minutes)

Supporting research

Learn First, Technology Second By Liz Kolb, ISTE - https://www.iste.org/resources/product?id=3975

Make, Learn Succeed by Mark Gura, ISTE - https://www.iste.org/resources/product?id=3797&name=Make%2C+Learn%2C+Succeed

Empowered Learners 4 truths and 4 myths ISTE - https://goo.gl/Z7VoRc

Providing Choices - http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2017/01/response_provide_voice_choice_when_students_set_goals.html

Personalized Learning https://all4ed.org/personalized-learning-empowers-students-to-take-ownership-of-their-learning/

Digital Tools for engagement - http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/technology/6-fun-digital-tools-to-engage-students/

EdTech Classroom Tools - http://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/01/10-edtech-tools-classroom-collaboration/

Best Web Tools - http://catlintucker.com/favorite-web-tools/
Technology Tools - https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/category/technology/

Digital Assessment Tools - https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/17-formative-digital-assessment-tools

Hands On Personalized Learning - https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/09/11/putting-students-in-charge-a-hands-off-approach-to-personalized-learning.aspx

Balance With Blended Learning - Caitlin Tucker