GoSoapBox

What Is It?

GoSoapBox is an audience response system. A teacher can set up a group, called a SoapBox, for students to join. Each SoapBox is identified by a class code. Within each SoapBox, a teacher can allow students to access the following features:

• The Confusion Barometer
• Quizzes
• Polls
• Discussions
• Questions 

How To Join?
Go to www.gosoapbox.com and click "Sign Up"  --  You only need your name, email address, and password to join!

How Much Time Will It Take To Setup?
GoSoapBox is very easy to use and takes little time to setup. It can be setup and managed on their website from your computer.

How Will Students Access It?

Students can easily access it using any device such as an ipad, laptop, surface, phone, etc. Once you setup a class a numerical code will be assigned to that class and the students will go to app.gosoapbox.com and enter their name and code.

What Are The Benefits to Using GoSoapBox?

• Students stay engaged in the lesson and class
• Students can contribute and provide information and feedback anonymously (the teacher will be able to see who posts what but other students will not)
• There is an "I am confused" button that students can press at anytime (it will show the total on the teacher computer)
• Teachers can create quizzes, polls, discussions, and questions ahead of time or use it in real-time during class
• Teachers are able to export data to Excel

Click the Video Below to See How GoSoapBox Works!

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Bring Your Own What?!?!

BYOD-It's an acronym similar to ones you've probably heard before. However, this time we're referring to Devices, not whatever it was you were thinking!

Our district recently updated its Electronic Communication Devices Policy, which you can check out (and I highly encourage you to) in its entirety here: Electronic Communication Device Policy. 

The policy now allows the possibility of teachers having students utilize BYOD or Bring Your Own Device. Electronic devices can be anything from smartphones to laptops to tablets, just to name a few.This is not a free-for-all though. There are guidelines that must still be followed and use in class is at the teacher's discretion. I know this can be an overwhelming idea at first, but don't let it be something you fear. Technology is part of students' everyday lives, so why not take advantage of that and turn what most students already have into a teaching tool?

Here is just a small list of ways to utilize BYOD:

• Formative Assessment-Students' devices can be their own response device, with the right app installed
• Electronic Note Taking-Evernote and One Note are great for this
• Cloud-based collaboration-Dropbox, One Drive, and Google Drive are all great options
• Presentation-Including apps like Prezi, PowerPoint, Haiku Deck, and Google Slides
• Blogging- Kidblogs and Edublogs are two possibilities
• Written Expression-Dragon, Microsoft Word, and Google Drive; for younger students the Write About This and Tell About This apps are great for expression
• Graphic Design-Canva is a really cool tool for this; Also sites like Glogster for infographic design

Obviously, the use of electronic devices will look significantly different at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The bottom line is that you must figure out how you can make technology in the classroom work for you and for the success of your students.

Here is a link to some great BYOD management tips if you're interested:

BYOD Management Tips

Is this something you might utilize in your classroom? If so, how?

Padlet

Student Sticky Notes on a Digital Bulletin Board: 

No username/password needed !

• Imagine getting feedback from all students instead of just the one or two you have time to call on.  
• Imagine that feedback being visible to the whole class, even in multiple sections of your course.
• Imagine the opportunity for anonymous participation to increase student involvement.
• Imagine interacting with other teachers in your department/building without leaving your classroom.
• Imagine real-time viewing and 24/7 availability.

Padlet is your answer.

Padlet is a bulletin board of sticky notes that can be accessed by anyone who has the link or webaddress.  

After going to www.padlet.com it takes just ONE CLICK to start a board.   

Then just ONE DOUBLE CLICK to add a note to the board.

No prep work necessary!

How could you use this in your classroom?

- Exit Ticket

- Do Now

- Brainstorming Board

- Student Showcase Board

- Class Word Wall

- Question Wall 

- Presentation Review

- Helpful Links Wall 

- Book Review Wall 

- Thank You Note Wall 

- Get to Know You Wall 

- Class/Group Competitions (each have their own wall)

What is my favorite use?

QUESTION WALL 

1. Open a board.

2. Post the address for the students at the beginning of class.

(note if you want the posts to include their name or be anonymous)

3. As class goes on -or even as a chapter/unit/theme continues students can add questions to the board.

4. Check the board periodically to see if there are questions during and/or after class.

5. Allow time for students to answer each other's quesitons.

In my discipline this works well with vocabulary.  In advanced levels students can even answer with a picture, link or a video to express the meaning without using English.

Some cool options: 

* Create your own webaddress for the board that is easy to remember

* Change the background image  to a map or a diagram

* Change the setting so that each post has to be approved by the teacher

* Make it password protected

* Get email notifications when someone posts

*Pre-made QR code to post for your students

*Have the posts in a nice layout - or scattered in a freeform

Why wait?  Participate in a padlet right now!

http://padlet.com/jyavorsky/smasdtechspot

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