EdPuzzle
EDPuzzle offers opportunities for authentic language opportunities for English learners because it allows the teacher to make videos of lessons and track student comprehension. EDPuzzle allows teachers to safely manipulate and insert questions and comments into videos from a variety of sources and on a variety of topics. The questions can revolve around vocabulary or comprehension. These enhanced videos offer opportunities for students to have communicative discussions in class. It could even be used as a transition from reading about the topic to reinforce student knowledge. Students can even rewind the video once they arrive at a point with a question or comment from the teacher to refresh their memory or view the content with a new lens. Through media, the students can be exposed to different cultural perspectives, products, and practices. Teachers can track student progress and share videos with rosters of students, which lets them check whether students truly understand the topic.
APPYPie
Appypie is a useful app that can be used to integrate technology into classroom instruction. It is easy to use since no coding skills are needed and students can view tutorial videos in a variety of languages. Students are given agency in creating something that they can freely use and share with others. By becoming active producers, student learning is taken to another level since they are expose to the language associated with the creation of something for public use. Students would be encouraged to edit their words and make the text easy for others to understand. This increases engagement and allows the students to consolidate or apply their knowledge on a topic to create something useful to them. For example, students can create a collection of articles or videos for a project or theme. They could create an app for a class blog to discuss learning topics or announce an event. They could create a recipe app with written recipes and video tutorials of food from their cultures to share with the class. A teacher could even create an app collection that includes links to language learning apps or other educational apps for students to use as a resource.
Website Creaters
Creating websites using apps like Wix, Weebly, and Google Sites is a great way to engage students in producing and consuming content. Teacher created wikis can be wonderful resources for the students. A teacher can make a class website in which lesson resources and assignments are posted for students to use and respond to. This allows them to model language and provide language learning resources. A class blog could be created to chronicle projects or lessons, with different students in charge of different posts or sub-pages on the site. Student created wikis allow students to have a direct interaction with language as they filter through the content they wish to include and write paragraphs for each page. Students will be given opportunities to express themselves and their ideas without limitations. Any app or remix video they create can be easily integrated into a website along with any resources they find. Since it will be open and presented to others, it will be important for them to edit and analyze their own writing and organization.
Book Creator
With Book Creator students can use their creativity to make ebooks such as learning journals, digital portfolios, interactive stories and reports. It is an open-ended tool that can be used for every subject throughout K-12: Literacy, English, Science, ELL, Special Education, Languages, Math and Social Studies. The simple interface empowers students of any age to combine text, images, audio and video to make beautiful ebooks that will demonstrate their learning. When finished, it is easy to share in multiple formats, amplifying student voice and giving an audience for their work beyond the classroom. Beyond the simple interface, older students can embed G Suite documents, forms and other interactive content directly into their ebooks allowing them to curate and reflect on all their learning across all the digital tools they use. Students could publish entire libraries.
Here is a great link for Sample Books made by students in a variety of subject areas. Teachers can use them to supplement their instruction or inspire creativity in their students' book projects.
Here is a great link for Sample Books made by students in a variety of subject areas. Teachers can use them to supplement their instruction or inspire creativity in their students' book projects.