Zoom would allow you to teach like you normally taught and see your kids before you like you’re used to. The Grid View allows you to see your kids in their homes. You can use more “traditional” instruction and allow for large group discussions. I envision this being particularly useful to teach a math concept, a read-aloud or to continue doing Workshop model. This is also a super way to keep your class community alive and healthy!
You read right. There’s a LOOM and a ZOOM! Loom is similar where it provides you with access to free screen and video recording. I like that it is a mix between Zoom and ScreenCastify which is why I give it a 💗 and a big thumbs up.
Loom is also a Chrome Extension - so can easily be downloaded onto any device but they also offer a Desktop version with better Video + Sound quality.
Free.
Here is a Step-By-Step Guide!
Many students are familiar with this program and enjoy it. It allows for you to first start with a video asking a question or giving instruction and then the students watch your video you’ve created and then record their response to your question. This works particularly well with a Math concept (You show an example then ask students to demonstrate their learning - they could hold up a paper with their answer on it as their video response). Could also work well to prove they were present for that day’s instruction! Very modifiable - in that you can allow students to interact with one another’s videos (or not allow it for more privacy).
Free.
Here is a Step-By-Step Guide!
LiveBoard is a WhiteBoard App for teachers where you can record, save and organize any of the instructions you do. This is useful if you do not have access to SmartBoard software on your laptop or if you have a substitute laptop that lacks resources. This is the closest thing I have found to the Smart Software that comes on our laptops.
Free.
Here is a Step-By-Step Guide!
Online voice recording only. No login required. Simply click a button and GO! The student is then provided with a URL they can copy/paste wherever they please and you can hear their response. So they could link it into a Google Document or on whatever other platform you are using so that you can hear what they have to say. I’ve used it plenty and find it very user-friendly and ultra simple.
Free.
Here is a Step-By-Step Guide!
You need Adobe Flash Player to run this program. It’s another WhiteBoard App.
Free until May 1st.
Here is a Step-By-Step Guide!
This program seems to offer what Zoom and others seem to already have but has limitations as to what is “Free.” For this reason, I’d recommend the others before this one.
Free to an extent.
Here is a Step-By-Step Guide!
PearDeck is a Google Add-On That is used to interact with your students using multiple platforms. Your audio and video are shared with your students and they can interact with you by commenting on questions/responding to things you’re mentioning in your video/lesson. Seems to me like *multiple* steps are involved to get students to the right place and involves many steps from you (like enabling the add-on, sharing a video link or sharing the video on another program like Slides). I haven’t used this but it’s been hotly enjoyed by teachers during this online fiasco!
Free (now)
Here is a Step-By-Step Guide!
PowToon is a Video Creator. Create book reports, presentations and everything in between. This site is temporarily free for the premium version but when it expires, you do lose access to the best things. I believe you only get 4 days of access. They do not have an online subscription deal during COVID.
Free... ish
Here is a Step-By-Step Guide!
You create a lesson (which can incorporate audio, video, slides, documents - You name it!) and your students get a code. That code allows them access to your lesson and transforms their device into an educational trampoline where they would have individual access to EVERYTHING in one sweet spot! This requires less link-sharing, switching between programs etc that the others sometimes require. With NearPod, as long as they have the code to your lesson, it can be accessed from ANY device (Phone, iPad, etc). Google also makes a nifty Plug-In to ease your access :)
Free
Here is a Step by Step Guide!
Edmodo brings all of your classroom tools together into one nifty platform. Feels Facebook-y and Google Classroom-y into ONE.
For Web, Android or IOS, this Google add-on will help you see and teach your kiddles!
Similar to ScreenCastify, this program will allow you to RECORD videos of your screen. Different from ScreenCastify is that it will also allow you to edit those videos by adding text, images and captions, but allows you to save them onto a Cloud type server. You can record your screen or via your webcam OR BOTH at once.
Free.
Here is a Step-By-Step Guide!