Engaging Learners In-Person or Remotely
This past spring and all throughout the summer I’ve worked to support educators in blended learning, engagement, and purposeful integration of technology. Although busy, what brings a smile to my face is the number of teachers who chose to dive into learning. For many, tech integration was relatively new. However, it didn’t stop any one individual from embracing the work that needed to be done. Educators took steps well beyond their comfort zone and knew they had full support along the way. Although many educators are still uncertain what a hybrid model or 100% learning will look like, we know we are gaining knowledge each day and with that, comes growth.
Once educators understand the basics of a learning management system (LMS) if new to them, it’s important to turn attention to exploring blended learning and engagement strategies, while providing personalized support to individuals when needed. Keep in mind that no one needs to utilize every edtech tool out there. When it comes to technology, take time to learn one or two great tools and how to use them well, then incorporate others when ready or if needed. One tool isn’t necessarily better than another, but my rule of thumb is to select edtech that empowers learners to demonstrate their learning, reflect, and be creative.
Many teachers are curious about how to maintain engagement when it comes to remote learning. Engagement comes in many forms; from learning strategies to incorporating movement, as well as meaningful and authentic learning experiences. There are many ways we can engage our learners. When it comes to remote learning, we want to ensure that we are leveraging tools that can be used to enhance engagement and shift toward empowering learning. Remember, it’s not the tool itself that provides engagement, it’s how teachers design learning, utilizing the tools and empower students through the use of them. Let’s explore!
Face-to-Face Connections
Engagement is always greater when we can have face-to-face connections. Providing opportunities to connect with learners virtually or in person for getting to know you activities, and team building, helps foster relationships that prime the mind for learning. That means that carving out time to foster relationships is important; both in person and remotely. We can use Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams to connect with learners. It’s important for learners to hear their teacher’s voice and see their expressions. Plus, these tools allow kids to see and hear from their peers, too. Although we are physically distant, we can still remain personally connected.
Tools to Empower Learning
Some of my favorite tools to empower learning include Flipgrid and Seesaw. Both allow learners to annotate, include photos or videos, add text or use the draw tool. Kids can opt to show their face in recordings or simply record a voice over to narrate, ask questions, or explain their learning. Both tools inspire creativity, as learners are empowered to demonstrate their learning in ways that are unique to them. Educators can share prompts, activities, and the best part is that kids have the opportunity to interact with what their peers post by liking or providing feedback. In our classroom, I always equipped students with sentence stems to provide meaningful feedback that was helpful, not negative. Then, we would intentionally practice as one of the centers of learning. When it comes to Flipgrid, (once you create a topic) teachers can include a focus such as a video, a Wakelet of resources, a PDF, a Nearpod lesson, Buncee, Newsela resource, or resources from either Microsoft or Google. I encourage you to go in and play around, I’m confident you’ll see the potential of both tools!
Wakelet
Wakelet is a great tool that can be used to curate, share resources, collaborate with others, and can even be utilized as a newsletter. While working alongside PBS Education creating a Virtual Professional Learning Series that incorporated their hit PBS KIDS show, Molly of Denali, to facilitate learning on both informational text and technology integration, I created a Wakelet to guide learners and their families through an activity. Wakelet can be used as a resource to support students and their families, taking them right through the learning process. Wakelet on its own isn’t necessarily engaging, but if used well as a tool and created/organized to promote active learning, it has the potential to enhance engagement. If interested, you can integrate Flipgrid into a Wakelet, too!
Choice Boards
What I appreciate about choice boards is that they provide… choice! Kids benefit from having choice because it helps learners to naturally self-differentiate and work on challenges that are appropriate to them as learners. It’s helpful to connect learners with their strengths and interests which fosters autonomy; boosting intrinsic motivation. Here is an example of one that I used within professional learning for a district I supported. My goal was to ensure participants had the opportunity to create, collaborate, and engage in various activities of choice that modeled how we can empower learning in the classroom and integrate technology in a meaningful way. You’re welcome to make a copy of it and edit to make it your own. Interested in learning more? Check out this great resource from TCEA on choice boards!
Breakout Rooms
Zoom offers the opportunity for learners to collaborate in breakout rooms. Teachers can bounce in and out of breakout rooms or hang out in the main room to work with learners one-on-one or remain available for those who are in breakout rooms. Students who are in breakout rooms can always return to the main room if they have a problem or a questions, and then rejoin their group. As learners work collaboratively in breakout rooms, it’s helpful if they utilize a shared document that the teacher can monitor through her own screen by using shared documents. Here’s a great example of how Google Slide can be used as a shared document, created by Shana Ramin. Before sending learners to breakout rooms, it’s beneficial to first take time to explore what collaboration looks, sounds, and feels like. Having consistent guidelines and a structure, helps all be successful.
Digital BreakoutEdu
In collaboration with PBS Education, we also hosted a digital BreakoutEdu with 1,000 educators! Facilitators were available to use inquiry with teams and provide any necessary support to individuals. BreakoutEdu has many digital versions of games that can be played with learners in the classroom or remotely! Although I enjoy a great hands on game of BreakoutEdu, with our current state of physical distancing and having some kids learning remotely, it’s the perfect alternative to incorporating game based learning. As I share in my book, Take the L.E.A.P.: Ignite a Culture of Innovation, “Incorporating game based learning elevates engagement as it has the tendency to trigger the brain to release higher rates of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that sends signals to other nerve cells. Dopamine causes a pleasurable effect in response to making predictions and plays a significant role in motivating humans.” Motivation is exactly what deepens engagement and helps us make the shift toward empowered learning. Within my book, I go further into the elements of game based learning and why they are so powerful to incorporate into lessons.
Nearpod
Nearpod is a tool that, if used well, it can boost engagement. Within a Nearpod lesson, teachers can have learners share their thoughts on digital sticky notes to share thinking, questions, and launch discussions. What I appreciate is that the teacher can moderate posts and choose to hide names (which I typically suggest). We want our learners to feel supported and safe to share their thoughts. I’ve found that quite often, our quietest students contribute more when they can post to an online platform such as Nearpod (or even Padlet). There are also options to add video, virtual reality, 3D features, audio (so that learners have the choice to listen), and all kinds of formative assessment options that allow you to adjust learning on the spot! Additionally there is a draw tool for learners and they can also access links throughout the lesson. Any time we can incorporate different opportunities for students to interact with learning and be the creators, we typically deepen engagement.
With all of the focus on various technology, it’s essential that we strive to balance activities that have learners at their seats (or standing) with opportunities for movement. For example, just because an activity or lesson incorporates digital tools or online activities, we still need to be cognizant to ensure that there are opportunities for hands-on learning or exploration indoors and outdoors when possible. In my Wakelet activity (shared in the Wakelet section), I engaged with video, audio, games, and reading text. Additionally, learners were encouraged to go outside to take pictures of birds in their neighborhood, then add photos to a Flipgrid where they could include text features, just like in informational texts. So, there were not simply sitting down using technology. Even if we are teaching remotely, finding that balance of helping kids move and get outside, is critical.
Ultimately, learning should feel exciting for our students. We want our learners to be explorers, creators, and to remain curious. Keeping it meaningful, relevant, fun, and creating the conditions to empower learning, all help to deepen engagement. Although technology may feel overwhelming to some of us, remember, one thing at a time and nothing trumps our efforts to foster authentic relationships and quality teaching strategies. Within my book, Take the L.E.A.P., I share numerous ways to create the conditions to empower learning through relationships and deepening engagement. It’s helpful for us to remember that the tools are only as great as teachers and students leverage them. While many of us have unique challenges before us, I’m confident that we will learn so much together through this journey. I hope that you’ll share what’s working well for you so that we can grow alongside one another!
