Litterarti App for Green Initiatives (plus a padlet hack for younger students)

The idea behind Litterarti is simple: see litter? Take an artistic picture of it, share, and then throw the piece of litter in the recycle bin or trash bin depending on what it is.

This is an awesome app to promote during April, on Earth Day, or by the school's green club.

I was so excited when I heard about this from Katy Noelle Scott at ISTE 2017. I quickly looked at the user agreement and saw it was for 13+, which means I can't use it at my middle school. So I came up with a Padlet hack that not only works across all devices without an app to install, but also can let me moderate the images.

To make the Padlet, I created on in my account. You can even use the shelf feature if you want grades to compete against one another or just to organize the data.

In settings, I made sure the most recent was first.

Under the Share feature, I toggled on moderation. This would prevent pranksters from posting anything scandalous. (See image below)

Directions were included at the top. You can easily put a link on the school website, as a QR code, and/or customize a Tiny URL to make it easy for students to post. Create a quick video of how to use it for the morning announcements and add some incentives, including sharing some of the best from that week on the announcements.

How to Embed Sway, Padlet, and Office 365 Document, PPT, or Spreadsheet in Schoology

Embedding is easy in Schoology! Why embed?

• students stay in the LMS
• you don't have to reupload if you make a correction
• organizes everything in one location

Office 365 Word, PPT, or Excel

Sway 

Padlet

NEW Padlet Feature: Shelf

At ISTE 2017, I had the pleasure of once again had the pleasure of attending a session by Leslie Fisher. In it, she showed us about Padlet's new feature: Shelf. Make columns in Padlet that don't require users to move items around!

Embed in Sway

One day, I dream Sway will support any embed code! Until that day, here is a quick tutorial featuring how to embed Office 365 documents as well as Padlet! Squee! The Padlet brings the interactivity component that I so love! 

Found other cool things you can embed that isn't on the official list? Share in comments!

Creating Templates for Padlet

Padlet is one of my "go to" applications for beginning or end of class activities. Since it is device agnostic, it is perfect for a BYOD classroom. In situations where tech is not 1:1, which is my usual day, I have students use the BYOD as small groups.

To make things easier to incorporate Padlet, I've created templates for Padlets. Now when I want students to work on a KWL, Venn Diagram, or similar graphic organizer I have them already set up and ready to go. I just make a copy of the original for my class and share out with QR code or shortened URL (I prefer Bit.ly solely because I love having a puffer fish up on my task bar!) 

How to create Padlet Templates to Facilitate Do Now. Closure Activities:

Step 1: Create Template

I use PowerPoint because I like the SmartArt Feature, but you can use anything that will save as a JPEG.

Step 2: Save as a JPEG

Step 3: Create a Padlet. Click on the clog in the upper right hand corner to modify. Scroll down to Wallpaper and select "MORE"

Step 4: Select your JPEG by clicking on "ADD YOUR OWN", "UPLOAD", and then either drop your image in or "CHOOSE FILE" and confirm.

Step 5:  After saving changes you should be able to see if you need to adjust your original image to fit the screen how you want. Repeat steps 1-4 until you have the desired look.

Then each time you want to use the chart, Venn Diagram, or similar template, just make a copy and rename with the specifics of the lesson. For example, KWL's copy becomes "KWL - Holocaust".

Use Technology to Make Exit Tickets Easier

If you’re like me, closure activities can easily fall by the wayside. I believe wholeheartedly in the power of debriefing. I know exit tickets can provide important reflection for students as well valuable feedback for my own teaching. All the research points to the importance of this part of the lesson cycle, but it also my own area of weakness. The three biggest roadblocks for me can easily be solved with technology:

Roadblock #1: We Forget!

I tend to teach until the bell interrupts me. Why not set an alarm 4 minutes prior to each bell to give students a chance to do the exit ticket? Set alarms on Outlook, cell phone or even your FitBit! FitBit vibrates on your wrist which lets you know you need to wrap up without the students thinking an alarm is the thing ending the lesson.

Roadblock #2: The Mountain of Paper!

With over 180 students, giving each student a Post-It creates a mountain that – admittedly – I usually hardly even read. Why not take advantage of a BYOD classroom? Use Padlet for groups or partners to post the exit ticket. Use the QR code already created within Padlet to share, create a shortened URL with a Chrome extension like bit.ly, or post a link to the class Edmodo or similar service. Keep exit tickets open like:

•           Each group posts the thing they feel they most understand and then the least
•           Post a picture - pile of rocks, a leaf, a bunch of puppies - and ask students to relate it to the day’s lesson.
•         Groups post their own question and answer. For example, working on character traits? Students create a character trait of a common text all the group members know (class novel, Disney movie, etc) and write the character’s name, a trait, and a piece of evidence.

 

Left side: My exit ticket prompt of a logical fallacy with various groups responding.
Right side: Setting to "lock" the padlet to "Can View" so people can't add to finished Padlet.

Roadblock #3: Accountability for students AND teacher

Nothing holds me more accountable than having an outside audience. Create a class Twitter account, encourage parents to follow - even for parents who do not have Twitter accounts, knowing that you are inviting people into your classroom digitally is a great way to leave a strong impression on parents! - and at the end of the school day Tweet out a selected response to your closure activity or the Padlet but make sure to CHANGE THE PRIVACY SETTING TO VIEW! Hashtag your school district when you have a particularly strong example, especially if there is a cute picture with it. Just be aware of privacy laws and don’t use students’ faces.