7:30 in the morning is not an easy time for many people, especially teenagers. One year, my students were more averse to alarm clocks than any group who came before them (or after them). I had up to eight students a day (out of 28) coming to class with tardy passes - a number and frequency I have never seen since. As a result, students would miss the few minutes of direct instructional time that I would deliver to students. This group would come in halfway through a grammar lesson, writing exercise, or reading discussion, thus missing the meat of the material and often great discussions, questions, and ideas shared by their peers. To solve this problem and find a way to provide that instruction to students who would walk in half-awake still frazzled from the frenzy of the morning, I turned to tech tools. Surely a tech tool or instructional practice had to exist that would allow me to supplement the missed time and provide the same (or as close to the same) experience as possible.
That semester was the semester in which I started flipping writing and grammar instruction for all students, typically short mini-lessons that involved active practice and application immediately after learning the lesson. Students would start the period as they hustled into their seats, watching a quick video lesson while I circulated providing support, greeting students, and checking in with any latecomers. I realized that creating videos allowed me to double my presence in the classroom. I could be teaching and completing social-emotional check-ins at the same time. If a student was absent, they always could watch the video, or if they needed additional support, they could rewatch the video at their own time and pace.
What tools are essential to a flipped style lesson or video delivery?
A screencasting tool and a video editing platform are two essential tools for creating original video content for students. My two favorite tools for this process are Screencastify and WeVideo, which allows me to edit and refine the video. WeVideo has so many special effects, music, and transitions to include in the creation process. Making videos can be time-consuming but can be reused and reshared over again. I house my videos on YouTube solely for the ease of sharing and create playlists to keep them organized by course, year, or instructional purpose.
My instruction was consistent for all students, but now they had access to me whenever, wherever, and however, they needed me. This on-demand playlist of writing instruction allowed me to be more present in the room, directing my attention to students in academic and emotional needs. As I explored video creation more, I realized that I needed another tool to make my lessons more personalized and engaging. EdPuzzle was the solution.
How does EdPuzzle work?
EdPuzzle was (and still is) one of my favorite tools for providing instruction to students in any format. Making videos interactive and engaging, EdPuzzle encourages students to take an active role in their learning. Instead of passively watching a video or not watching altogether, this tool tracks student viewership. EdPuzzle also allows teachers to insert voice comments, written comments or links, multiple-choice questions, and open-ended questions during the video. This type of interactive structure keeps students actively listening and demonstrating their comprehension along the way. Teachers can craft entire lessons using a video from YouTube or any other video platform. They can access a library of already created videos and lessons or make their own from scratch. This webtool is user-friendly both on the teacher and student end. Teachers can share lessons with other teachers or find inspirational ideas from the EdPuzzle library.
With EdPuzzle, I now had more flexibility to provide face-to-face feedback, incorporate individualized and small group work, and use station-rotation to create an active learning experience for my students. The use of a few tech tools not only solved my students' alarm clock problem helped me revolutionize the effectiveness of my writing lessons while creating more time for classroom activities.
Aside from the traditional way of assigning a video to each student, how else can EdPuzzle be used?
EdPuzzle is traditionally pushed out to students to complete independently, but the more I used it, the more I began to experiment with a small group and whole class lessons. I used Librivox recordings of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew to create videos for whole-class activities. I inserted voice comments and open-ended questions to facilitate discussion while we listened to and processed through the play. The video would stop playing at crucial moments that necessitated further discussion. While the video played, I walked the room with my script and helped students follow along. I could read facial expressions and mentally gauge their comprehension, thus allowing me to provide immediate clarify or feedback to a particular line or scene. I also liked how knowing the length of the video gave me a better estimate of the pacing. If a student was absent, they did not miss out on the same experience as everyone else. They simply need the link, which can be shared with an entire class through a learning management system or assigned directly to an individual student.
EdPuzzle can also be used for small group inquiry. If students are researching a project, they can watch and complete the EdPuzzle together. They can answer open-ended questions, find evidence through external resources or readings, and can engage in dialogue with one another throughout the process. This use for EdPuzzle works well with a station rotation classroom model. The answers students provide can serve as a useful formative assessment for a teacher to review later if that teacher is working or teaching in another station.
Note that the free version allows teachers to store up to 20 videos, but the paid version allows for unlimited videos. The paid version also allows institutions to create a school library, making it even easier to collaborate and share. If you are looking for professional development, EdPuzzle has an entire library full of different topics, including Google Tools, Project-Based Learning, Diversity and Inclusion, 21st Century Learning, and more. These professional development experiences are free and can be completed at one's own pace. For people looking to prepare for whatever the fall might bring, this resource would be a great place to start!
No matter what problem we are trying to solve, the intentional use of technology can allow us to create new experiences that may save time, provide more feedback, or enhance the student experience. I did not realize what EdPuzzle could do for my classroom before I started using it, and it even solved a problem or two I didn't realize I had. Find the tool that can solve your problem or maybe even wake up your classroom in ways you never imagined.
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