Web Tools for Teachers and Students

Padlet

Padlet is a great web tool that promotes student interaction. I use this tool when I want students to share their opinions and discuss a short story or poem. The students can share their reactions and ask questions on Padlet and then respond to one another. I have to create a discussion board for the students and then I can see all the reactions. This works well when students are struggling to understand a poem. They can post their thoughts on Padlet and react to the posts. Since they can see what everyone else has posted, they can decide which questions to answer and continue the discussion. This is a great activity to use at the beginning of a lesson. It is free, but limited unless you purchase more features. For example, I have six classes, but five is the maximum number of free discussions.

https://padlet.com/      

Storyboard That

Storyboard That allows students to create story boards online and collaborate. I use this when I want students to summarize a story. Teachers can also assign templates that require students to identify and illustrate the parts of the story. For example, I have assigned a template for students to identify and illustrate the parts of the “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe. The students had to use quotes that demonstrated alliteration, repetition, and internal rhyme. Then, they illustrate the quote using Storyboard That. Finally, the students had to present their storyboards to the class. Students worked in pairs to create their storyboards. I monitored the projects through the website. The website offers some free features, but it does require a fee for more advanced features.

https://www.storyboardthat.com/

Wayground

Another web tool that I use often is Quizizz, which is now called Wayground. I use this as a review, but it can be used to help students collaborate and share ideas. One of the features allows students to work in groups to respond to the online quiz. In addition, the students can use different features to help each other respond to the questions. They can also challenge each other and compete to see who has the highest score. Other features include videos and lessons on vocabulary and reading comprehension. Teachers can create a quiz or search for quizzes in the database. After students complete a quiz, the teachers can view data like which questions students missed the most. I like to share the quiz with the class after they take it as another form of review. The website allows for a maximum of 20 activities for free.

https://wayground.com