We live in a time where there are many technology-enriched
learning experiences that our students and teachers have access to. These
programs help incorporate subject-based learning into the classroom, or if preferred,
virtual education. Here are a few to compare and see which ones might work best
for you!
EDpuzzle is an online platform where teachers can make videos
for their students and track their comprehension. It is engaging for students
and they can learn at their own pace. Teachers can ask interactive questions
and check to see how many students are watching the videos and understanding
the information. EDpuzzle allows you to upload videos from other websites including
YouTube, Khan Academy, Crash Course, and others to save time preparing lessons.
You are always welcome to upload your own videos as well! EDpuzzle can be used for
in-person or virtual learning. Classrooms can use EDpuzzle to work on
assignments and projects. According to EDpuzzle(2020), it is used by more than
50% of US schools.
EDpuzzle can differentiate for readiness, interest, and learning
styles. According to the EDpuzzle staff (2020, Dec. 9), students who might come
into school later in the year do not have to play catch up. EDpuzzle can be
used to assign videos, review grammar and vocabulary, and new materials the
student may have missed. This can be used even when students are learning different
languages. Another differentiation that students can use is the chance to do homework
independently. You can use cross-curriculum by having students write a story
about a math problem they have been assigned. There are opportunities for re-watching
videos for instruction as well as providing support to students who might need
the extra help.
Next, SAS Curriculum Pathways is a great technology-enriched
learning website that can be used to benefit students. It is easy to use for
teachers and students. There are resources of different subject areas- K-12 as
well as international studying as well. It is available at no cost and you can
sign up using a Google account. It can be used on tablets, computers, or smart
phones.
For teachers, SAS Curriculum Pathways has lesson guides
as well as plan books, State Core standards, and differentiated instruction.
They use differentiated instruction by allowing the material to be used for
elementary through high school. The materials are engaging and interactive. The
materials that are provided engage struggling students as well as gifted and
talented students.
Instructional strategies that are used are project-based
learning (PBL) as well as a flipped classroom. A flipped classroom is where
students receive their primary instruction outside of the classroom based on teacher-made
videos. Then, the teacher can continue students learning by helping them finish
assignments, with questions, participating in discussions, etc. This strategy
works well with SAS Curriculum Pathways (SAS Curriculum Pathways, 2020).
Lastly, Newsela is another technology-enriched website
that gives students access to become more engaged in their learning. Newsela has
content that allows students to be global citizens and learn about the world
around them. The materials included in Newsela are ELA, Social Studies, Science,
and SEL. Because it does not include all subjects, that is a con to Newsela. It
is a subscription-based learning site.
Newsela include distance
learning, equity, and anti-bias and anti-racism lessons. It is beneficial
because it focuses its curriculum on news stories and real-life situations that
they integrate into reading and writing lessons. Differentiated instruction can
be used with Newsela. This can be through in-person learning, virtual learning,
cross-curriculum, and by having multiple subject areas (Newsela, 2020).
EDpuzzle and SAS Curriculum Pathways seem to be a better
fit in the classroom in terms of using all the subject areas and more differentiated
instruction. Both of these learning sites promote learning and create ownership
of learning within the students. In both EDpuzzle and SAS Curriculum Pathways, students
can move at their own pace. This is a great way for students to become responsible
for their learning. Once they have mastered a skill, they can move on to the
next.
With SAS Curriculum Pathways, I think that it is more
based on the students’ motivation. If the students are not as intrinsically
motivated, they may not get as much learning done. This could be due to a
flipped classroom mentality versus live teaching for the students. With
EDpuzzle, teachers can choose when they want to teach live or recorded lessons.
Both are beneficial, but one might be better than the other based on what
subject the teacher is teaching or by trying to incorporate more differentiated
instruction (Stern, J., 2015, March 30).
EDpuzzle.
(2020). Make any video your lesson. Retrieved on April 28, 2021 from https://edpuzzle.com/
EDpuzzle
Staff. (2020, Dec. 9). 4 Reasons why parents will love EDpuzzle. Retrieved on April
28, 2021 from https://blog.edpuzzle.com/edtech/4-reasons-why-parents-will-love-edpuzzle/
SAS
Curriculum Pathways. (2020). Interactive, standards-based resources in the
core discipline. Retrieved on April 28, 2021 from https://www.curriculumpathways.com/portal/#
Stern,
J. (2015, March 30). Edutopia. Enhancing learning through differentiated
technology. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/enhanced-learning-through-differentiated-technology-julie-stern
EDpuzzle. (2020). Make any video your lesson. Retrieved on April 28,
2021 from https://edpuzzle.com/
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