Taylor's Blog

  Microsoft Word Intro: Microsoft Word is a software program used for creating, editing, and formatting text documents. It’s part of the Microsoft Office suite and is one of the most commonly used tools for writing essays, reports, newsletters, and professional documents. Ease of Use: Microsoft Word is very user friendly once you learn the basic tools. It offers templates, spelling and grammar check, and formatting features that make documents look neat and professional. Students may need some guidance at first, but it quickly becomes easy to navigate. Versatility: Word can be used for a wide variety of classroom purposes. Students can use it to write essays, take notes, and create reports or journals. Teachers often use Word to make newsletters, worksheets, and classroom materials. The program also works well for collaboration when combined with OneDrive or Teams. Overall Opinion: I enjoy using Microsoft Word because it’s reliable and professional. It offers many helpful t...

  Boom Cards Intro: Boom Cards are interactive, self-grading digital task cards that help students practice skills in a fun, game-like way. Teachers can assign decks for different subjects and track student progress instantly. Ease of Use: Boom Cards are easy to use and require very little setup. Students log in and complete cards at their own pace. The platform gives immediate feedback, which helps students correct mistakes as they go. Versatility: Boom Cards can be used to practice math facts, sight words, spelling, or grammar. Teachers can create their own decks or use pre-made ones from the Boom Learning library. They’re perfect for centers, independent work, or review. Overall Opinion: I enjoy using Boom Cards because they’re interactive and personalized. Students see learning as fun, and teachers save time with automatic grading and progress reports. Relation to TLC: Boom Cards fit into T (Teaching) and L (Learning) within the TLC Framework. They support different...

  Seesaw Intro: Seesaw is a digital portfolio platform that allows students to document and share their learning through photos, videos, drawings, and written reflections. Teachers and families can view and comment on student work, promoting collaboration and communication. Ease of Use: Seesaw is simple to navigate. Students can upload work by clicking icons and adding text or recordings. Teachers can assign activities and provide feedback easily. It’s also family-friendly, allowing parents to stay involved. Versatility: Seesaw can be used for daily reflections, assignments, art projects, or reading responses. It supports multiple grade levels and subjects, making it perfect for younger learners to showcase progress. Overall Opinion: I like Seesaw because it builds a connection between home and school. Students feel proud sharing their work, and parents love seeing what their children are learning in class. Relation to TLC: Seesaw connects to C (Communication) and L (Lea...

  Nearpod Intro: Nearpod is an interactive presentation tool that allows teachers to create engaging lessons that students can follow along with on their own devices. It includes polls, quizzes, drawings, and videos to make lessons interactive and collaborative. Ease of Use: Nearpod is easy to use for both teachers and students. Teachers can upload existing slides or use built-in templates, and students can join lessons quickly using a code. It works smoothly on Chromebooks and tablets, which makes it accessible in most classrooms. Versatility: Nearpod can be used to teach new lessons, review materials, or assess understanding in real time. It’s helpful for virtual, hybrid, or in-person learning. Teachers can add interactive questions to lessons or assign self-paced activities for homework. Overall Opinion: I really like Nearpod because it keeps students engaged while still allowing the teacher to monitor progress. It’s a great way to mix technology into regular instruction...

   Flip (formerly Flipgrid) Intro: Flip is a video discussion platform where students can record short videos to share their ideas, answer questions, or collaborate with peers. It gives students a voice and allows teachers to assess understanding in a creative, engaging way. Ease of Use: Flip is simple to use. Students can record, edit, and upload videos quickly, and teachers can moderate, comment, or provide feedback easily. It’s accessible from computers, tablets, and phones. Versatility: Flip can be used for reflections, book talks, presentations, or discussion boards. It works across subjects and grade levels, and it is especially useful for language learners or students who struggle with written expression. Likelihood of Usage: I would use Flip to promote student engagement and give all students a chance to share their thoughts. It encourages participation from those who might not speak up in class and helps build confidence. Course Connection: This tool connect...

  Quizlet Intro: Quizlet is an online study tool that allows students and teachers to create flashcards, quizzes, and interactive games for learning vocabulary or content knowledge. It is widely used for studying, reviewing, and practicing concepts in a fun, digital format. Ease of Use: Quizlet is easy to navigate and simple for students to use. Teachers can upload lists or create sets in minutes, and students can study individually or collaboratively. Versatility: Quizlet can be used in any subject area and for any grade level. It offers multiple learning modes including flashcards, matching games, and practice tests. It also allows students to create their own study sets, which promotes active engagement. Likelihood of Usage: I would use Quizlet to reinforce vocabulary, review key concepts, or assess student understanding in a low-stress way. It’s a great tool for homework, review, or differentiated instruction. Course Connection: Quizlet can connect to our course by he...

  Padlet Intro: Padlet is an online collaborative bulletin board where teachers and students can post text, images, videos, and links. It’s a simple platform to organize ideas and resources visually, which encourages participation and collaboration in the classroom. Ease of Use: Padlet is very intuitive. Adding posts is simple, and students can comment or react to each other’s contributions with just a few clicks. Teachers can quickly set up boards for lessons or projects. Versatility: Padlet can be used for brainstorming, reflections, interactive timelines, class discussions, and exit tickets. It works well for any grade level and any subject, allowing teachers to adapt it to different learning goals. Likelihood of Usage: I would use Padlet to facilitate student discussion and collaboration. It’s particularly useful for language learners or students who are shy, because they can contribute at their own pace. Course Connection: This tool ties to our course by combining te...

Canva for Education Intro: Canva for Education is an online design platform that allows teachers and students to create visually engaging presentations, infographics, posters, and more. It’s easy to use, and it gives students opportunities to design projects that showcase their creativity while learning content. Canva also offers templates specifically for classroom use, making it a great resource for all grade levels. Ease of Use: Canva is very user-friendly with drag-and-drop functionality. Templates and tutorials make it simple for beginners to create polished projects quickly. Both students and teachers can navigate the platform without extensive training. Versatility: Canva can be used for digital posters, presentations, social media graphics, worksheets, and interactive activities. Its versatility makes it useful across subjects like science, ELA, and social studies, for both teacher-created materials and student projects. Likelihood of Usage: I would definitely use Canva...