Color Your Classroom with Engaging Learning Experiences

Green to yellow, orange to a vibrant red. As autumn colors appear overnight, midterms and summative assignments loom over the heads of high schoolers who have to-do lists as high as the piles of leaves they played in as children. Yes, this point in the semester appears dreary as the weather shifts and schedules are filled to capacity. The end of any term challenges students and teachers alike, but once significant assignments are graded and scores are entered, frantic fears and stress seem to cool. As the end of October approaches, a new sense of excitement and holiday joy start to revitalize the hallways. While the weather outside grows increasingly frightful, the fires of professional development can delight curious minds who are looking to illuminate classroom learning with new tools and strategies.

In the past few semesters, educational technology companies have started creating professional development opportunities for teachers to complete at their own pace online for no cost. Open educational resources provided by companies like EdPuzzle, Google, and Kahoot, encourage teachers to experiment with new ways to engage students - whose energy is freezing over like the first frost of the fall. Earning colorful badges to be displayed in email signatures or to share on social media platforms certain make professional development more festive.

I have started to work my way through a few programs and resources, hoping to spotlight the best professional development that I can share with colleagues and friends. Since all of our time is limited, I want to ensure that learning experiences are valuable and meaningful before making recommendations. Here are a few of my favorites so far:

1. Google for Education remains my favorite resource to encourage teachers to explore. With more courses and modules released every year, Google for Education offers a wealth of knowledge about how to use Google Suites products and why using these products can enhance the classroom experience. Teaching in a Google school, encouraging teachers to pursue their Google Level 1 certification, or creating awareness about the help forums for these products can empower teachers to enhance and even transform current teaching practices. Recently Google for Education has added “First Day of…” resources to walk teachers through individual tools, which is palatably designed for all levels of technology comfort levels. They also have more targeted courses for specific devices, teachers of diverse learners, teachers of English language learners, and even courses on coding. Increasing teacher familiarity with these tools can lead to an increase in exploration and creation by both teachers and students alike.
2. EdPuzzle has been in the professional development game for over a year now, with classes that teach educators to use their tool while elaborating on a variety of subtopics - including personalized learning principles, 21st-century skills, gamification, and project-based learning. With resources on several initiatives and trends in education, irradiates best practices. What I appreciate most about EdPuzzle’s resources is the time commitment is clear, and the experience is completely self-paced, allowing for flexibility and convenience. Having completed a few of these courses has not only exposed me to new and helpful videos to share with colleagues but has also challenged me to reflect on how I use EdPuzzle with students. Experiencing this tool and others from the student perspective improve the implementation of the tool and color classroom learning in new ways. 
3. Flipgrid continues to be one of my favorite tech tools. While it does not offer a traditional course experience, this tool encourages teachers to earn badges for using the tool, contributing to the Disco Library, and for amplifying students' voice. Flipgrid's achievements page challenges teachers on how to continue to share, collaborate, and engage student audiences as well as other educators. This collaborative tool encourages teachers to empower students and provides resources in which teachers can reuse, recreate, and connect with others. Using badges to reward users increases interest and curiosity while also illustrating how much teachers are creating vivid experiences for their students. 
4. Pear Deck, my favorite tech tool to enhance student engagement, does not have a formal training program yet. Their website, however, is robust with articles and resources that cast light on how to utilize this tool with students. While Pear Deck does not have asynchronous trainings online, training slides are readily available for download. The company also provides PD training sessions to teachers throughout the country and also is quick to support teachers who inquire on social media platforms. I would not be surprised if they continue to develop more resources and more formalized training. 
5. Recently Kahoot has jumped on board the professional development train with bronze, silver, and gold certifications. They also have a plethora of professional development resources and a presentation to download as well. Providing this information allows teachers or instructional coaches to use resources to support teachers as they use this tool to make learning fun, engaging, and memorable. I am currently working toward my silver certification, which must be completed over time. Working through these quizzes has allowed me to experience Kahoot from the student perspective and also work through resources that I did not realize Kahoot provided for teachers. The opportunities to learn are endless, and Kahoot has done an impressive job rolling out these resources for teachers.

The fall season is full of changes. From the russet tones of leaves to the lurid and ever-fluctuating emotions of teens - these changes occur before our eyes. New tools and strategies can make instruction lively and vibrant while keeping engagement high throughout the semester. Just as Dorothy steps out of Kansas and into a technicolor world, we can color the dreary fall months with amazing experiences for our students.