#4 – Learning (TLC) Tools

 

Learning about ways to integrate technology in the classroom has been so fun for me! I love learning new tips on how to promote student engagement. Two of my favorite tech tools that help with student learning are bubbl.us and blockposters.com

 

Bubbl.us is a mind mapping tool! Click here to check it out! The reason I selected this tool as a favorite was for its ease of use. All you need to do is set up an account (bonus- it is free!) then get to mapping!

 

 

When getting started it is easy to get overwhelmed, but after playing around with it for a few minutes I was able to get the hang of it!

 

The idea behind this digital mind mapping tool is to help keep thoughts organized and provide an easy way to share the information among devises. Whether it is group work that requires collaboration, or just personal work, bubble.us is a perfect tool to use to keep things organized and all in one place, the possibilities are endless! I love that you can save your mind maps as PDFs and send them to your smartphone, tablet, or even other people.

                                     

I can see myself incorporating the use of this in my classroom quite often. Especially when creating character maps to go along with stories that we read in class.

 

 

Blockposters.com is a really cool site that takes all the guesswork out of creating large posters with only standard 8 ½ in x 11in sized paper!

 

 The reason I selected this tool as a favorite was because its ease of use. The directions are quite simple as all you need to do is upload your image/design/document, decide where the slices (individual pages) will go, download it, and then print!

                                          

I can totally see myself using this tool in the classroom because I love the idea of having important information posted up in my classroom for students to refer to.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I love handwritten/handmade posters, but the use of block posters with the information neatly typed out will likely alleviate any letter-confusion that students could have in regard to mine or other students handwriting on a poster. A poster that a student cannot read is not going to be useful to them.

 

Aside from creating big posters, this tool can be used to create big puzzles for your students to work together to complete or do individually. All you need to do is upload your image and decide where the slices go, and then viola! You’ve got yourself a puzzle! This would also be fun to include when redecorating your classroom, you can invite your students to help “assemble” the posters which will then urge them to use their cooperative skills.

Wait... one more thing!

Deciding on only two tools to discuss was hard, so I wanted to share one more favorite of mine. This one is called goconqr.com. This tool provides many unique ways to create content. Some ways include flashcards, mind maps, notes, flow charts, slides, and the creation of quizzes. Below is an image of what happens when you click the "create" button, look at all the options!

 

In addition to the numerous creation ideas it provides, goconqr.com is so easy to use! I was surprised with how simple it was to create an account (free again!) and get started! Only took a couple minutes of playing around with it before I felt I fully understood it. I also love how easy it is to stay organized while using this tool! Check out the categories you can use to organize your materials. You can separate them by subject and/or course, and you can manage your groups as well. 

Because of the several tools available, I can definitely see myself using this tool in my classroom. It’s like a one-stop-shop for contention creation, so versatile!