4 EdTech Applications You Can Use Right Now!
Reviewed with SAMR as a guide, these tools can really engage your students.
Welcome back to EduTech Innovations! In today's post, we will explore four practical edtech applications that can significantly enhance teaching and learning experiences: Wordwall, Formative, Flip, and Genially. As educators, it's essential to make informed decisions when integrating technology into the classroom. One helpful framework to guide us in this process is the SAMR model, which stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition.
In this post, we will discuss each of these four applications, highlighting their features and alignment with the different levels of the SAMR model. We will also provide examples of how these tools can be integrated into lessons to promote engagement, collaboration, and deeper understanding. By examining these edtech applications through the lens of the SAMR model, we can better understand their potential impact on teaching and learning and make more purposeful decisions in selecting and implementing technology in our classrooms.
So, let's dive in and discover how Wordwall, Formative, Flip, and Genially can transform learning experiences and help us achieve our goal of improving engagement and outcomes for students, parents, and teachers alike.
Wordwall is a versatile app that enables teachers of all grade levels (K and above) to create custom teaching resources to enhance their classroom activities. Falling under the Substitution and Augmentation levels of the SAMR model, Wordwall provides a user-friendly platform for educators to design a wide variety of interactive activities, from quizzes and word games to match-ups and many more.
At the Substitution level, Wordwall allows teachers to replace traditional paper-based activities with digital versions, making it easier to distribute and manage tasks. This direct tool substitute streamlines the process of creating and sharing activities without significantly altering the nature of the tasks.
As an Augmentation tool, Wordwall offers functional improvements over traditional methods by incorporating features such as automated grading, instant feedback, and real-time data tracking. These enhancements help teachers save time and provide students with immediate insights into their performance, which can promote motivation and self-assessment.
By utilizing Wordwall in the classroom, educators can create engaging, personalized activities that cater to the diverse needs and interests of their students. Moreover, the digital format of the activities enables easier sharing, collaboration, and adaptability, making Wordwall a valuable tool for enhancing teaching and learning experiences.
Formative is a powerful educational platform designed for students in grade 2 and above, providing teachers with the ability to create a variety of assignments and assessments that students can access and complete on different devices. As a tool that aligns with the Substitution and Augmentation levels of the SAMR model, Formative promotes a more responsive and engaging learning environment while offering educators valuable insights into student performance.
At the Substitution level, Formative enables teachers to transition from traditional paper-based assignments to digital versions, making it more efficient to distribute, collect, and review student work. This shift to digital assessment streamlines the process without making significant changes to the nature of the tasks.
As an Augmentation tool, Formative introduces new features that enhance the learning experience, such as real-time student-teacher interaction and immediate feedback. Teachers can monitor students' responses as they complete assignments, offering timely feedback and guidance to support learning. The platform also includes analytics that help educators track student progress and identify areas in need of improvement.
Incorporating Formative into the classroom allows educators to design interactive, tailored assignments that address the diverse needs and interests of their students. The platform's real-time capabilities encourage a more engaging and supportive learning environment, enabling teachers to offer targeted assistance when needed. Formative proves to be a valuable asset for educators looking to enhance the assessment process and foster a more dynamic learning experience. Formative can easily reach Modification and Redefinition levels when utilized effectively.
Flip is a versatile video discussion app, free from Microsoft, designed for learners of all grade levels (K and above). As a tool that aligns with the Modification and Redefinition levels of the SAMR model, Flip enables curious minds to connect in safe, small groups to share videos, build community, and engage in collaborative learning experiences.
At the Modification level, Flip allows teachers to redesign learning tasks, transforming traditional classroom discussions into dynamic, interactive video exchanges. For example, instead of conducting a text-based discussion on a novel, educators can use Flip to create a virtual space where students record and share their thoughts on specific themes, characters, or plot points, responding to their peers' insights in real-time.
Flip (Flipgrid) Tutorial for Teachers 2022, great walkthrough!
As a Redefinition tool, Flip empowers students and educators to create new learning experiences that were previously inconceivable. For instance, a teacher could design a global collaboration project where students from different countries use Flip to share cultural experiences, local customs, and perspectives on global issues. Students can then engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering empathy, understanding, and a global mindset.
Incorporating Flip into the classroom allows educators to design engaging, authentic, and collaborative learning experiences that cater to diverse student needs and interests. By leveraging the power of video discussions, Flip fosters a supportive learning environment, encourages critical thinking, and enhances communication skills. Flip is an invaluable resource for educators seeking to create innovative, collaborative learning opportunities that transcend the traditional classroom experience.
Genially is an all-in-one platform that enables educators to create engaging and interactive learning materials for students in grade 1 and above. As a tool that aligns with the Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition levels of the SAMR model, Genially empowers teachers to design captivating content that ensures success in various learning environments, whether in-person, online, or hybrid. It serves as a great alternative or complement to platforms like Nearpod.
At the Augmentation level, Genially enhances traditional learning materials by enabling educators to incorporate interactive elements such as quizzes, polls, and multimedia. For example, a teacher could create a presentation about the solar system and embed interactive quizzes to gauge students' understanding and provide immediate feedback.
As a Modification tool, Genially allows teachers to transform learning tasks by integrating various types of content into a single platform. For instance, a teacher could design a virtual gallery walk for an art history unit, using Genially to combine images, videos, text, and interactive questions that students can explore at their own pace. Or even gamify your lessons with a variety of different gaming options.
In the Redefinition stage, Genially opens up new possibilities for learning experiences that were previously unimaginable. A teacher could create an immersive virtual escape room where students must collaborate and apply their problem-solving skills to unlock content related to the curriculum. This innovative approach encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and deepens engagement with the subject matter.
Incorporating Genially into the classroom allows educators to design dynamic, interactive, and visually appealing learning experiences tailored to diverse student needs and interests. By leveraging the power of interactive content, Genially helps educators create memorable and meaningful learning opportunities that foster motivation, engagement, and success in various educational settings.
Well, folks, we've traveled together through the world of SAMR, exploring how it can help us choose and implement edtech tools like Wordwall, Formative, Flip, and Genially. Each of these nifty applications has something special to offer, taking us on a journey from Substitution to Redefinition in our classrooms. As we thoughtfully weave these tools into our teaching, we can spark student engagement like never before, creating dynamic, interactive, and collaborative learning spaces that make our students sit up and take notice.
In this fast-paced, ever-changing world of education, it's essential for us to stay in the know about the latest edtech innovations and practices. With the SAMR model as our trusted guide, we can make smart choices about integrating technology, ensuring that we're constantly upping our game when it comes to engaging our students, parents, and fellow educators.
We hope you've enjoyed our deep dive into Wordwall, Formative, Flip, and Genially and that you're excited to see how these tools can help you ramp up student engagement in your own classroom. Don't forget to check back for our next post, where we'll look at some more fantastic edtech tools framed in the SAMR framework. Have a blessed day!