Getting to know your students is an essential part of building a positive and effective learning environment. With the help of free EdTech tools, teachers can make the process of getting to know their students more engaging and efficient. Here are some ways to use free EdTech tools to get to know your students:
- Create a digital survey: Use free survey tools like Google Forms or SurveyMonkey to create a digital survey that asks students about their interests, hobbies, and learning preferences. This information can help teachers tailor their instruction to meet the needs of their students. Simon Sez IT provides an easy tutorial on creating a survey using Google Forms.
- Conduct digital icebreakers: Use digital icebreakers like Kahoot, Blooket, or Quizlet to help students get to know each other. These tools can be used to create fun and interactive quizzes that students can take together, promoting teamwork and collaboration. Tech & Learning offers some great ideas in their “Best Digital Icebreakers”!
- Develop digital portfolios: Use digital portfolio tools like Seesaw, Canva or Google Sites to create a digital portfolio that showcases students’ work and accomplishments. This can help teachers get to know their students’ strengths and interests. Learn how to create a digital portfolio with Dear DISes.
- Utilize digital storytelling: Use digital storytelling tools like Storybird, Storyboard That, or Book Creator to have students create digital stories that introduce themselves to the class. This activity promotes creativity, storytelling skills, and digital literacy. Learn more about Storyboard That in our course Visual Tools for Backward Design.
- Use digital collaboration tools: Use digital collaboration tools like Padlet or Google Docs to have students collaborate on a project or share their ideas with the class. This activity promotes teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills. Here is a curated list of our favorite Padlet tutorials.
By using free EdTech tools, teachers can make the process of getting to know their students more engaging and efficient. These tools can help teachers tailor their instruction to meet the needs of their students, promote teamwork and collaboration, and foster creativity and digital literacy. Additionally, these tools can help students develop important 21st-century skills that will prepare them for success in the future.
We offer many classes to help you learn more about using EdTech tools in the classroom. Here are a few of our most popular!
Visual Tools for Backwards Design
Google Level 2 Certified Educator
Getting Started with Google Education: Best Practices and Application
EdTech Tools for Creation and Collaboration
Ignite Learning with Google in Education
It Take a Village: Building Community Connections with EdTech
