While reading Teaching online: A guide to theory, research, and practice ( Major, 2015) I found myself thinking about the online tools I use in my practice and what tools I wish to add to my existing kit. As an elementary teacher, the ways in which I use online tools look different than they do at the post-secondary or secondary levels.
Google Suite- Google classroom allows for the teacher to set the platform in a way that is friendly and accessible for elementary aged students. The teacher can directly comment on student posts without the need for students to post outside of the closed google classroom. Having closed enrollment is critical in the elementary setting.Control over who is able to access the class content is held by the teacher. Within google classroom, learning can either be asynchronous or synchronous, if google classroom is being used by itself then the class is most likely asynchronous. Work on the google classroom is easily organized, with a google calendar organizing the due dates for students. Additionally, the collaborative features in the Google suite allow for collaboration to work smoothly, with minimal need for teacher intervention. This allows for a more decentralized or distributed model of learning. This is a tool that I have used in a more traditional elementary class setting. It works well for a blended type classroom as well as fully online. The students are able to access their work from wherever they are and can work on it when they have time. There are many functions of the google classroom that make is very adaptable to be able to present materials, create assignments and gather data( assessment).
Prezi- Prezi combines the presentation ability of powerpoint while making it more engaging and interactive. It can be used to create a class that is open or closed, depending on how the information is shared. The platform gives the instructor significant freedom in how the content is shared while allowing the learning to go at their own pace, compared to many other presentation software types. This does mean that the learning is asynchronous in nature. It does have a centralized pathway, the information is given from the instructor to the students. Prezi is a tool that I have used more as a student than as a teacher, however, I can see the validity in it as a way to present information for students to gather at their own pace. It can very easily link to outside sources and include more multimedia forms of learning, which in turn increases the engagement of learners.
References
Major, C. H. (2015). Teaching online: A guide to theory, research, and practice. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press.
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