Educreations

Educreations

Description of tool:

Educreations is a way to create videos to show students how to do something. It is a lot like using a whiteboard. The only difference is that it's in a video. Educreations can be used on the computer or an Ipad. You can write on the document while recording your voice. Educreation is a great tool to use in a flipped classroom setting. Students can watch the videos if they were absent or if they need to learn the concept again. Teachers can create a class and videos to the class for students to watch. The students have a class code they would use when setting up an account for Educreations. I like how you can import pictures and write on the pictures. The thing to remember is that you have to draw on the whiteboard in order for the students to see what you are doing. The students can not see what you're mouse is doing like a screencast. 

Pedagogical uses;

Depending on the plan you choose with Educreations, students and teachers can create videos. However, if you choose the free plan, you can create videos and share them with your students through various ways. Teachers can create videos that students can watch at home in a flipped classroom setting. The students could then do their assignment when they came to class. Students can create videos, depending on the plan you choose, and share them with their teaching. 

Educreations can be an instructional tool or an assessment tool. Students can create a video showing the teacher what they learned from a lesson or showing their understanding of a concept. For example, a student can create a video showing understanding of how to multiply numbers. The teacher can watch the video and determine if the student understands the concept. I really like Educreations for a flipped classroom setting. Students can watch the video as many times as they would like, if you allow them to, and gain knowledge of a concept before coming to your classroom.

Example of Educrations:

Just a note: when you watch these, your volume may need to be turned down. I used two different microphones and on the second video, my voice is really loud. I also get really excited about the information in my videos. Just pretend like you are in third grade. 

How to create an Educreations:

I apologize for the siren sound. I am currently on vacation in Las Vegas and recording these videos in my hotel room.

Cost of the tool:

The basic tool which you can record and share lessons is free. In the free version, you get the basic whiteboard tools which you see in the video above. You can create and join classes as well as save one draft at a time. You get 50MB of storage space and email support.
In the Pro Classroom version, you get one teacher and forty plus students. It is 8.25/month billed annually or 11.99 month-to-month. In this version, you can export videos, save unlimited drafts, and 5GB of storage per user. You also get advanced whiteboard tools. You can import docs, maps, and more in this version. You also get priority email support. I like this version if you want more specific and detailed videos. The cost isn't terrible either if you plan on using this as a part of your lessons on a regular basis.
Educreations also has an ProSchool version where ten or more teachers can have teacher and student management. All the students get the pro version, and it has in-app features on an Ipad. You have unlimited storage space and dedicated support. The cost is 1495 a year. However, if your school likes this tool and plans on using it on a regular basis, it may be cost efficient.

Why you want to learn this tool:

Like Edpuzzle, this is a great tool to use if you flip your classroom. Students can learn a new concept while watching a video. You can show students how to do something while actually doing it and not just talking. Students can watch the video as many times as they like and the videos don't take very long to make. If you upgrade to the pro version, you get a lot of great tools and can truly make videos more exciting.
 Educreations is a tool to implement if you want an easy way to create videos for a flipped classroom. The videos are easily embedded into a website, blog, or LMS. Students can watch the videos as part of an assignment and the teacher can keep the videos as long as the storage capacity isn't met.

Sources:

ISTE Standards. (2015). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards

Teach anything to anyone from anywhere. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from https://www.educreations.com/ 

ISTE Standards:

Teacher:

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity

1. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
2. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
3. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
4. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environment

2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments

1. Design or adapt learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
2. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
3. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

3. Model digital age work and learning

1. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
2. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats
3. Model and facilitate effective use of emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility

1. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
2. Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools

Students:

1. Creativity and innovation

1. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
2. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression

2. Communication and collaboration

1. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
2. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
3. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems

3. Research and information fluency

1. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
2. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
3. Process data and report results

4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making

1. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
2. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
3. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
4. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions

5. Digital citizenship

1. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
2. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
3. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
4. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship

6. Technology operations and concepts

1. Understand and use technology systems
2. Select and use applications effectively and productively
3. Troubleshoot systems and applications
4. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies

Classroom Management

Class Dojo

What is it?

Class Dojo is a tool that can be used for classroom management. The teacher sets up a class with the students. The students can earn preset points for positive behaviors in the classroom. The students can also lose points for negative behaviors in the classroom. Each student has their own avatar. The teacher can determine how the avatar gets set up. Class Dojo can be used on an Apple and Android products. Teachers, parents, and students can use this to see how they are doing in class. Each student is assigned a code that they simply type into the website. Students can see how many points, positive and negative, they received as well as change their avatar. Parents can also log in to Class Dojo to see how their students are doing. Parents can message the teacher via Class Dojo and teachers can comment back. The website allows teachers to share pictures with the parents, so it is an easy way to communicate with parents. The teacher, students, and parents can look at graphs to see the balance between positive and negative points. The teacher has the option to allow the students to "spend" their points for rewards. It is completely up to the teacher how the students use their points. 

Pedagogical Uses

The teacher can use this as a behavior management tool in the classroom. The behavior expectations are outlined for the students, and the students get rewarded if they behave accordingly. There can also be consequences for negative behavior. It all depends on how the teacher would like to use the website. Class Dojo is a great way for students to learn responsibility. Teachers can have the students keep track of their points, or be in charge of the store to spend their points. Class Dojo can be used in many different ways. It is up to the teacher to find creative ways to use this tool.

An example of a Class Dojo Report

Example of negative behaviors

Example of student avatars set by Class Dojo

Example of positive behaviors 

Example of rewards and consequences 

Example of rewards for points

Location of tool:

Class Dojo can be found at https://www.classdojo.com/. 

Cost of the tool:

Class Dojo is completely free for parents, students, and teachers. The users need access to a phone, tablet, or computer. The user needs an access code that the teacher prints out to see the students' behavior report.

Why a teacher wants to use this tool:

Class Dojo is an easy way reward students for positive behavior. Students enjoy changing their avatar and seeing how points they can earn. It is a great way for students to be in charge of their behavior. Parents can be involved with their students' behavior plan if they choose and are able to communicate with the teacher via the app. Class Dojo is a fun way to help students  meet goals and be in charge of how they behave in a classroom.

Sources:

ClassDojo. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2015

ISTE Standards. (2015). Retrieved June 30, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards

ISTE Standards:

Teacher:

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.

b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

c. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes. 

2.  Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments

a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

b. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.

d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments, aligned with content and technology standards, and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

3. Model digital age work and learning

b. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation

c. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats

5. Engage in professional growth and leadership

a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning. 

Student:

4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making

c. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions

5. Digital citizenship

b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity

c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning

6. Technology operations and concepts

a. Understand and use technology systems

d. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies