Here are five of my favorite edtech platforms or apps. They are easy to use, inexpensive (most), and allow for more significant differentiation and personalization of educational activities:
Google Classroom is at the top of the list because of how much this is used in my classes. During the pandemic, Google Classroom was used 24/7 during remote teaching. Google Workplace, formerly G Suite, is free to anyone with a Google or a Google Workspace for Education account. There are also enterprise packages available with more features. Within Classroom, teachers can assign, grade, link, collaborate, and use the Workspace programs: Docs, Forms, Slides, Sheets, and many more. Classroom is intuitive and very user-friendly (Main, 2022). It is also flexible enough to allow teachers to work cross-curricularly. Here is a highlight of the LMS- a teacher can assign an assignment to all students or individual students individually. It isn't a seamless operation, but it is easy enough if you have any tech training. It also allows for features like speech-to-text, translation, and setting deadlines. There is something for every learning style in Google Classroom, from basic word processing to creative hands-on with Slides, along with virtual readers and writers for support for auditory learning.
Bring on the creativity. Canva is a free graphic design tool that empowers students and teachers to design
presentations, posters, infographics, logos, videos, and more. There are multiple free templates and the
capability to collaborate on projects as a class. For a graphic design program like Adobe, it provides an
incredibly easy-to-use platform. It can be used in any subject and offers fantastic tools to engage
students cross-curricularly. For the teacher, Canva allows enhancing your presentations, create engaging
worksheets and stylish class newsletters, and design awesome class posters. Students can create
presentations, infographics, letterheads, social media posts, videos, and much more. The templates
provided are great and easy to adjust for your individual needs. Differentiation and interest are easily
obtained through the integration of various forms of communication, i.e., an infographic with an
interactive map or a video with links to worksheets that interest and engage the students. Free teacher
accounts are available; you can add up to five students to work on a project.
Nearpod is a game changer when it comes to interactive presentations. Many templates assist teachers in designing interactive lessons using videos, games, and polls that make even the driest topic engaging. Nearpod has a free basic account that allows limited storage space but the ability to share presentations via any learning management system. Individual and group or school memberships are available for a nominal monthly fee. You can import already created presentations and add any tools available on the platform. You can also use thousands of lessons or assessments already made. Whatever method you utilize, you can adjust to meet the needs of your students. Nearpod allows the integration of multiple learning strategies and styles so each lesson can engage students. Upon creating a presentation, it is hosted on Nearpod, and you get an enrollment code for your students. The presentation can be set so students can self-direct, or it has to be completed as a class. Within the presentation, vocabulary, text-to-speech, and other academics can be integrated, making this a great tool to differentiate classwork.
Artificial Intelligence
ChatGPT was introduced to the world in its beta form in 2022 by OpenAI (ChatGPT: Educational Friend or Foe? | Brookings, 2023). Like humans, AI can only put out what is put into it. The prompts that are used will directly reflect the end product, and when ChatGPT began, it didn't have a ton of input, but as it began to be utilized, it became more and more user-friendly. You can use ChatGPT for free, but it is subject to availability; with a monthly membership, you have access whenever and wherever you want. Students' use of AI is limited to outside of the district network in my district, but they can access it at home if they desire. You have a clear prompt, and the Bot presents precisely what you requested. There are many uses for Chat GPT besides having them write a paper. With the proper prompts, you can get sentence starters, it can edit a piece of writing, or help design questions into a related topic. Teachers can utilize differentiated text, provide exemplars, outline a text, or help create engaging lesson plans. My experience has shown that reading through whatever the Bot presents to you is essential to check for accuracy.
Magicschool is a relatively new platform standing out among the swell of educational AI platforms. Magicschool does not lack tools, and for the price, free to educators, it can't be beaten. There are over 20 Bots within Magicschool that can empower teachers and students. Magicschool has streamlined the time-consuming tasks plaguing teachers at all grade levels and specialties (Demirkol, 2023). It is straightforward to use and offers an app to download onto your desktop to access the tools anywhere on the internet. This platform will actually help you differentiate lessons, texts, and created questions. One text can be retooled for multiple reading levels with questions. With the addition of a subject, selection of a grade level, and a few other choices, a teacher can have an outline of a lesson plan that will allow the teacher to differentiate each activity and lesson as needed. It also will write teacher jokes and create a song about a person. As with any AI, it is essential to include the relevant information in your prompts and to check the results to ensure it meets your needs.
Ownership for Students:
While all these tech tools are used regularly in my Classroom, Google Classroom and Canva present more opportunities for student ownership of their learning. Both platforms can be easily adjusted to be student-centered, allow creativity, and empower students to further their learning outside the Classroom.
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