Hi Everyone,
Yesterday we had another successful Tech Café with many teachers in attendance. I have been working to find ways to communicate and engage parents more in the classroom with YouTube and to find ways to collect usable data for instruction. Both were topics at the Tech Café. See below for a couple examples, and the suggestions I shared.
Using YouTube to Communicate With Parents
Yesterday we had another successful Tech Café with many teachers in attendance. I have been working to find ways to communicate and engage parents more in the classroom with YouTube and to find ways to collect usable data for instruction. Both were topics at the Tech Café. See below for a couple examples, and the suggestions I shared.
Using YouTube to Communicate With Parents
Using YouTube to Communicate with Parents
I have always felt that communication with parents was important and this year, my school began limiting the number of parents who are let into the building on party days. I know how important it is for parents to be present at these parties, or at least to know what goes on, so I began making video slideshows with YouTube. These slideshows generally took me under 15 minutes to put together.
Create your own YouTube Video for Parents
- The first thing you need to do is take LOTS of pictures! I like to make sure that I get at least 2-3 pictures of each student. I usually do this by taking big group shots at the beginning of each party.
- Transfer the pictures to your computer.
- Go to YouTube and log in. Click the Upload button in the top right corner.
- On the right side of the screen, you will see different options for creating videos.
- Under "Photo Slideshow," click create. Follow the instructions as you go through for uploading pictures. **Please note: once you select the length of each slide and move to the advanced editor, you cannot change the length of each video again..I recommend 5 seconds for each picture.**
- Within the advanced editor, you can add free music from YouTube and add subtitles.
Good luck with your slideshows! Feel free to contact me if you need any extra help!
Example: YouTube Video for Parents
Giving Quick Checks - Quick and Easy Online!
There are a lot of sites that boast their ability to collect and organize data quickly and easily for teachers. I shared two of my favorite sites at the Tech Café. I took some time to explain each site, the set-up steps required and the benefit of both sites. I hope you give one of them a try!
Kahoot
Kahoot rocks. That's the best way I can explain it. Kahoot is game based, which means that a teacher will create quick check, or quiz, or review game and all students with devices will log on to participate.Questions will always be projected from the teacher's computer and the answer choices appear on student devices. Any internet enabled device can play Kahoot: smart phones, tablets, laptops or Chromebooks!
Edit: Pictures added to post
Edit: Pictures added to post
Set up and Use Kahoot
- Go to getkahoot.com and create your account.
- When you log in, you will have 3 options: Create a quiz, a poll or a discussion. I almost ALWAYS use the quiz function.
- Create your quiz and be sure to give it a unique name so you can use it in the future. Names like "Quiz for October 1" wouldn't be specific and you'd probably forget what was covered in the quiz in the future. **You can also share Kahoot's that you've created with colleagues!**
**Quick Tip: I always make the first answer the correct answer. Then when I launch and play the Kahoot, I randomize the answers. I make the first answer the correct one so I don't forget the correct answer - which sometimes happens when I'm making quizzes for math!** - That's pretty much it. Once your Kahoot is created, it will automatically save in your account. You can go back and replay it over and over. Your students will go to kahoot.it and will type in the game pin which is displayed on the projector after you've launched the game.
Enjoy!