GOOD EDUCATIONAL WEB TOOLS TO TEACH

Writing is a tedious cognitive act that is intellectually demanding for students.The approach we teacher and educators adopt towards  writing makes the different between a real engagement and apathy. Students usually view the writing process as personally revealing and thus they loose any kind of connection with it. Our job as teachers is to build this connection between student writers and the writing practice through engaging them in real and authentic tasks that speak to their immediate environment and provoke their intellectual curiosity.

Using comic strips is one powerful way to get students excited and motivated about the writing act. Students love to interact with visuals and tools such as the ones listed below will empower them to do just that. Using these comic strip generators , students will get  to engage in conversations using cartoonic characters and build stories and share their works with each other.

Here are some of the best educational web tools that students can use for creating comics and engaging in written discussions around different topics and stories.

1- Scholastic story starters

Scholastic Story Starters is my favourite of them all. it provides four story starter themes: adventure, sci-fi, fantasy, scrambler. Upon choosing a theme, students will be provided with a spinning wheel where they get to generate a story starter. To compose their stories, students will have the option to choose from four different formats: notebook, letter, newspaper, and postcard. After picking out the desired format and typing in their text, they can then either download their finished work or print it. This is all done without the need for a sign-up or registration.

2- Make Beliefs Comix 

This is another wonderful platform that students can use to practice their writing through generating strip comics. Similar to Scholastic Story Starter, Make Beliefs Comix also does not call for any sign-up or registration. Students are provided with a wide variety of characters, objects, seech bubbles, and thought cubes to use to create their stories. After they are done they can download, print or share their work through popular social media websites.

3- Storyboardthat

StoryboardThat is another good option for creating comic strips for students. It does provide a wide variety of services and options for students to tinker with when creating their comics but this comes at a price that is almost 6 dollars a month. The free version gives you only 14 days trial and does not allow you to upload your own images to use in comics.

4- Comic Master

Comic Master provides students with a  rich library of backgrounds and characters that they can use to  create  comic books and graphic novels. These comics can be shard for free with friends and also on social media websites.

5- Chogger

Chogger provides you with a comic builder that allows you to  draw your own comics, caption photos, take webcam pictures and add speech balloons. Read, rate, and comment on comics made by people from all around the world.
6- Witty Comics

Witty Comics is a simple to use web tool for students to generate comic dialogues. A set of Pre-drawn background scenes and characters are already provided and students will only select the ones they want to feature in their comics.

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GOOD EDUCATIONAL WEB TOOLS TO TEACH

Writing is a tedious cognitive act that is intellectually demanding for students.The approach we teacher and educators adopt towards  writing makes the different between a real engagement and apathy. Students usually view the writing process as personally revealing and thus they loose any kind of connection with it. Our job as teachers is to build this connection between student writers and the writing practice through engaging them in real and authentic tasks that speak to their immediate environment and provoke their intellectual curiosity.

Using comic strips is one powerful way to get students excited and motivated about the writing act. Students love to interact with visuals and tools such as the ones listed below will empower them to do just that. Using these comic strip generators , students will get  to engage in conversations using cartoonic characters and build stories and share their works with each other.

Here are some of the best educational web tools that students can use for creating comics and engaging in written discussions around different topics and stories.

1- Scholastic story starters

Scholastic Story Starters is my favourite of them all. it provides four story starter themes: adventure, sci-fi, fantasy, scrambler. Upon choosing a theme, students will be provided with a spinning wheel where they get to generate a story starter. To compose their stories, students will have the option to choose from four different formats: notebook, letter, newspaper, and postcard. After picking out the desired format and typing in their text, they can then either download their finished work or print it. This is all done without the need for a sign-up or registration.

2- Make Beliefs Comix 

This is another wonderful platform that students can use to practice their writing through generating strip comics. Similar to Scholastic Story Starter, Make Beliefs Comix also does not call for any sign-up or registration. Students are provided with a wide variety of characters, objects, seech bubbles, and thought cubes to use to create their stories. After they are done they can download, print or share their work through popular social media websites.

3- Storyboardthat

StoryboardThat is another good option for creating comic strips for students. It does provide a wide variety of services and options for students to tinker with when creating their comics but this comes at a price that is almost 6 dollars a month. The free version gives you only 14 days trial and does not allow you to upload your own images to use in comics.

4- Comic Master

Comic Master provides students with a  rich library of backgrounds and characters that they can use to  create  comic books and graphic novels. These comics can be shard for free with friends and also on social media websites.

5- Chogger

Chogger provides you with a comic builder that allows you to  draw your own comics, caption photos, take webcam pictures and add speech balloons. Read, rate, and comment on comics made by people from all around the world.
6- Witty Comics

Witty Comics is a simple to use web tool for students to generate comic dialogues. A set of Pre-drawn background scenes and characters are already provided and students will only select the ones they want to feature in their comics.

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PROBLEM BASED LEARNING ( PBL) IS A TEACHING STRATEGY

Problem based learning ( PBL) is a teaching strategy that involves the minimum amount of direct and formal instruction characteristic of lecture based teaching.  In a PBL model, students are provided with complex problems to work on and during the process they get to learn the lesson content and theoretical knowledge underlying the problem. In other words, unlike traditional content-based teaching where the primacy is put on the delivery of content and the imparting of knowledge to students, PBL foregrounds problem-based activities as a way to stimulate students cognitive skills and engage them in hands-on learning.

PBL is  a student centred  and process-oriented approach. It puts a premium on the process leading to understanding. Its main objective is to prepare students for real world scenarios where they would have to deal with a variety of problems. It is also a cross-disciplinary approach in that it cultivates skills necessary for learning across multiple disciplines. According to Tan (2013 cited in Normala et al. 2013), some of the major skills bolstered by PBL include:

• Teamwork
• Independent learning
• Communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Interdisciplinary skills
• Information-mining skills
• Higher-order thinking skills

Creating challenging problems is at the base of an effective PBL approach. When deftly formulated, problems are deemed to sustain students engagement and drive their learning. Hence, well-structured problems in PBL need to heed the following requirements as speculated by  Allen, Duch &;Groth (1996) and Gallagher (1997) and cited in Normala, 2013:

• Contain multiple solution paths
• Change as new information is obtained
• Contain content that is authentic to the discipline
• Generate interest and controversy and cause the learner to ask questions
• Prevent students from knowing that they have made the "right" decision
• Require more information for understanding the problem than is initially available
•  Be open-ended and complex enough to require collaboration and thinking beyond recall.

To help you have an informed idea about what PBL is all about and learn more about how to effectively apply it in your teaching, we curated this collection of some must read books in this direction.

1- Problem-Based Learning: An Inquiry Approach by John F. Barell (Author)

‘This standards-based, teacher-friendly second edition offers step-by-step procedures that make this effective teaching model highly doable for all teachers, with examples showing problem-based learning in action.’

2- The Practice of Problem-Based Learning: A Guide to Implementing PBL in the College Classroom, by José A. Amador (Author), Libby Miles (Author), Calvin B. Peters (Author)

‘This book is a guide for the development and implementation of problem-based learning (PBL) in college-level courses. It provides practical advice from real professors, includes examples of PBL in action through every stage from problem development to implementation, and integrates cross-disciplinary experiences into the practice of PBL in the college classroom.’

3- Problem-based Learning: Welcome to the "Real World": A Teaching Model for Adult Learners, by Dr. Wendy J. Flint 

‘In this book, the characteristics of problem-based learning are explained and the theories that support problem-based learning are explored. Through a faculty mentoring project, the research conducted at a community college found significant improvement in student engagement and learning with a diverse population of students.’

4- The Power of Problem-Based Learning, by Barbara J. Duch (Editor), Susan E. Groh (Editor), Deborah E. Allen (Editor)

‘Focuses on the practical questions which anyone wishing to embark on PBL will want to know: "Where do I start?"–"How do you find problems?"–"What do I need to know about managing groups?"–"How do you grade in a PBL course?" The case studies from a variety of disciplines?including biochemistry, pre-law, physics, nursing, chemistry, political science and teacher education?provide examples of practice.’

5- Problem-Based Learning for Math & Science: Integrating Inquiry and the Internet, by Diane L. Ronis  (Author)

‘Illustrates how to strengthen learners' problem-solving skills by incorporating problem-based learning (PBL) with Internet resources and presents projects that correlate to national science, mathematics, and technology standards.’

6- The Challenge of Problem Based Learning, by David Boud (Author), Grahame Feletti

‘Problem-based learning is a way of constructing and teaching courses using problems as the stimulus and focus for student activity. This edition looks at the topic in the light of changes since the first edition (1991). There are new chapters on the impact of PBL, and inquiry and action learning.’

References:

1. Normala, O., & Shar, M.(2013). Problem-based learning in the English language classroom. English Language Teaching, 6(3): 125-134.
2. Tan, Oon Seng. (2003). Problem-based learning innovation. Singapore: Thomson.
3. Allen, D. E., Duch, B. J., & Groh, S. E. (1996). The power of problem-based learning in teaching introductory science courses. In L. Wilkerson, & W.H. Gijselaers (Eds.), Bringing Problem-Based Learning to Higher Education: Theory and Practice (pp. 43-52). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

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PROBLEM BASED LEARNING ( PBL) IS A TEACHING STRATEGY

Problem based learning ( PBL) is a teaching strategy that involves the minimum amount of direct and formal instruction characteristic of lecture based teaching.  In a PBL model, students are provided with complex problems to work on and during the process they get to learn the lesson content and theoretical knowledge underlying the problem. In other words, unlike traditional content-based teaching where the primacy is put on the delivery of content and the imparting of knowledge to students, PBL foregrounds problem-based activities as a way to stimulate students cognitive skills and engage them in hands-on learning.

PBL is  a student centred  and process-oriented approach. It puts a premium on the process leading to understanding. Its main objective is to prepare students for real world scenarios where they would have to deal with a variety of problems. It is also a cross-disciplinary approach in that it cultivates skills necessary for learning across multiple disciplines. According to Tan (2013 cited in Normala et al. 2013), some of the major skills bolstered by PBL include:

• Teamwork
• Independent learning
• Communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Interdisciplinary skills
• Information-mining skills
• Higher-order thinking skills

Creating challenging problems is at the base of an effective PBL approach. When deftly formulated, problems are deemed to sustain students engagement and drive their learning. Hence, well-structured problems in PBL need to heed the following requirements as speculated by  Allen, Duch &;Groth (1996) and Gallagher (1997) and cited in Normala, 2013:

• Contain multiple solution paths
• Change as new information is obtained
• Contain content that is authentic to the discipline
• Generate interest and controversy and cause the learner to ask questions
• Prevent students from knowing that they have made the "right" decision
• Require more information for understanding the problem than is initially available
•  Be open-ended and complex enough to require collaboration and thinking beyond recall.

To help you have an informed idea about what PBL is all about and learn more about how to effectively apply it in your teaching, we curated this collection of some must read books in this direction.

1- Problem-Based Learning: An Inquiry Approach by John F. Barell (Author)

‘This standards-based, teacher-friendly second edition offers step-by-step procedures that make this effective teaching model highly doable for all teachers, with examples showing problem-based learning in action.’

2- The Practice of Problem-Based Learning: A Guide to Implementing PBL in the College Classroom, by José A. Amador (Author), Libby Miles (Author), Calvin B. Peters (Author)

‘This book is a guide for the development and implementation of problem-based learning (PBL) in college-level courses. It provides practical advice from real professors, includes examples of PBL in action through every stage from problem development to implementation, and integrates cross-disciplinary experiences into the practice of PBL in the college classroom.’

3- Problem-based Learning: Welcome to the "Real World": A Teaching Model for Adult Learners, by Dr. Wendy J. Flint 

‘In this book, the characteristics of problem-based learning are explained and the theories that support problem-based learning are explored. Through a faculty mentoring project, the research conducted at a community college found significant improvement in student engagement and learning with a diverse population of students.’

4- The Power of Problem-Based Learning, by Barbara J. Duch (Editor), Susan E. Groh (Editor), Deborah E. Allen (Editor)

‘Focuses on the practical questions which anyone wishing to embark on PBL will want to know: "Where do I start?"–"How do you find problems?"–"What do I need to know about managing groups?"–"How do you grade in a PBL course?" The case studies from a variety of disciplines?including biochemistry, pre-law, physics, nursing, chemistry, political science and teacher education?provide examples of practice.’

5- Problem-Based Learning for Math & Science: Integrating Inquiry and the Internet, by Diane L. Ronis  (Author)

‘Illustrates how to strengthen learners' problem-solving skills by incorporating problem-based learning (PBL) with Internet resources and presents projects that correlate to national science, mathematics, and technology standards.’

6- The Challenge of Problem Based Learning, by David Boud (Author), Grahame Feletti

‘Problem-based learning is a way of constructing and teaching courses using problems as the stimulus and focus for student activity. This edition looks at the topic in the light of changes since the first edition (1991). There are new chapters on the impact of PBL, and inquiry and action learning.’

References:

1. Normala, O., & Shar, M.(2013). Problem-based learning in the English language classroom. English Language Teaching, 6(3): 125-134.
2. Tan, Oon Seng. (2003). Problem-based learning innovation. Singapore: Thomson.
3. Allen, D. E., Duch, B. J., & Groh, S. E. (1996). The power of problem-based learning in teaching introductory science courses. In L. Wilkerson, & W.H. Gijselaers (Eds.), Bringing Problem-Based Learning to Higher Education: Theory and Practice (pp. 43-52). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

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EDUCATIONAL APPS AND TOOLS FOR 1:1 CLASSROOM

If you happen to teach in a 1:1 classroom then you will definitely be concerned about the educational apps to use with your students.  There are tons out there for sure, but many of them are not worthwhile. To this end we curated this selection of some of the most popular apps and tools among 1:1 classroom teachers. Browse through the suggested titles and see what you want to adapt in your class. Enjoy

1- Socrative

Socrative is a smart student response system that empowers teachers to engage their classrooms through a series of educational exercises and games via smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Socrative is designed in such a way to help teachers make classes more engaging and interactive.It also helps teachers initiate activities and prompt students with questions to which students can respond using their laptops or smartphones. The good thing about Scorative is that it can run on any kind of device with internet connection: iPads, iPods, laptops, smartphones so students will never miss out on any learning acidity.

2- TodaysMeet

TodaysMeet is a great web tool for creating backchannels with your students. It is very easy and simple to use. You can use it in your class to engage students in sideline discussions and chats around a given topic. The process to set up a backchannel via TodaysMeet is very easy: first, create a room and given it a name and a duration then share the URL of that room with your students and start the chat.

3- Telegami

Tellagami is a mobile app that lets you create and share a quick animated video called a Gami.A Gami can be an exciting tweet or status update. It can be a fun way to tell a story. It can be a thank you message or a vacation postcard. It can be a birthday greeting, party invite or cool way to share photos. The possibilities are endless!

4- Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck is the simple new way to create inspired presentations – whether you’re pitching an idea, teaching a lesson, telling a story, or igniting a movement. Featured on the iTunes “New and Noteworthy” and “What’s Hot” lists!

5- Educreations

Educreations turns your iPad into a recordable whiteboard. Creating a great video tutorial is as simple as touching, tapping and talking. Explain a math formula... Create an animated lesson... Add commentary to your photos... Diagram a sports play.

6- MindMeister

This is a very good that students can use to create, share and collaboratively edit their mind maps. MindMeister is deeply integrated into Google Drive, allowing users to open and edit many mind map formats.

7- Edmodo

Edmodo is a web-based platform that provides a safe and easy way for your class to connect and collaborate, share content, and access homework, grades and school notices. It is like Facebook but in a safe and controlled environment appropriate for school.
 8- Explain Everything

Explain Everything is an easy-to-use design, screencasting, and interactive whiteboard tool that lets you annotate, animate, narrate, import, and export almost anything to and from almost anywhere.Create slides, draw in any color, add shapes, add text, and use a laser pointer. Rotate, move, scale, copy, paste, clone, and lock any object added to the stage.

9-  Teacher Kit

TeacherKit is a personal organizer for the teacher. It enables the teacher to organize classes, and students. Its simple and intuitive interface enables teachers to track the attendance, grades and behavior of students.

10- Stick Pick

Pick a student at random just by giving your device a shake or tapping the screen -- but that’s just the beginning. Stick Pick suggests question starters for learners at different levels and also records how well students respond during classroom discussions. If a student is consistently scoring near the top or bottom, simply change the level so students aren't bored or frustrated.

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