Tool #6

I have used Wallwisher in past, but I thought I would try it again as a way to see how much background knowledge students had on electricity. I think of it as the "know" on a KWL chart. You could even have another wall for the "what do you want to learn." You could use Edmodo to promote discussion while learning about topic. Wallwisher was very easy to set-up. I just had to put a link on my class webpage. When we began our physical science unit students were showing what they knew about gravity and I just gave everyone a sticky....well this is the virtual sticky.




I have used Edmodo in reading groups this year. When a members of a reading group are done with their assigned reading they go online to discuss the book. You need to show them or model good examples of commenting & posting. If I am not meeting with a group or between groups I go online and see what is being posted. I through out an open-ended question to deeper their discussion if needed or deleted posts that are off-topic. When I first introduced the idea of Edmodo by students could not wait to get started reading. It was VERY motivating...they were taking their books home to read. The layout reminds me of Facebook which is probably one of the reasons they like it, but I love how it is in a safe environment and it is not open to the public. I know I have not taken advantage of Edmodo full capabilities. They sharing links and images...which they figured out how to do without me showing them. Our students are like sponges with technology. They are not afraid to try things out and if it fails that's okay...we know what not to do next time.