Excited for fresh, cost-free professional development opportunities? Look no further! Introducing Volume 4 of the Podcast PD Choice Board for Teachers!

Building on the success and feedback from previous volumes, we’re thrilled to offer this new edition as a tool to inspire and facilitate your journey through the world of podcasts for professional learning.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your understanding, explore new strategies, or just find some inspiration, this choice board has something for every educator.

With the Shake Up Learning Show Podcast now boasting over two hundred episodes covering a wide array of educational topics, it’s the perfect time to launch Volume 4 of the Podcast PD Choice Board.

This latest choice board is designed to cater to a variety of interests and professional development needs, featuring an even broader selection of topics, including the latest in ai in education, google tools, and much more.

Whether you’re exploring these resources on your own, or you’re involved in providing professional development for others, this choice board is versatile enough to be adapted and utilized in many different contexts.

And for those who love customizing their PD tools, we’ve included a blank template, allowing you to tailor the choice board to fit your specific needs or those of your organization.

Explore, learn, and transform your professional practice with the Podcast PD Choice Board (Vol. 4)!

Did you miss our previous Podcast PD Choice Board releases?

• Volume 1
• Volume 2
• Volume 3

Podcast PD Choice Board Vol. 4 (FREE Template)

If you are new to choice boards (aka learning menus), be sure you get your FREE Guide to Digital Choice Boards and learn all about these wonderful tools for student choice and differentiation.

I love using choice boards in the classroom AND in professional learning experiences.

Below is the Podcast PD Choice Board Vol. 4 (made with Google Drawings) with many episodes from which to choose!

Click Here to Make a Copy | Use the Template

Don’t have Google? Download the PDF: Podcast PD Choice Board for Teachers (Vol. 4)

Podcast PD Choice Board Blank Template

If you’d like to create your own from scratch, I’ve created a blank template that you can use below.

Click Here to Make a Copy | Use the Template (best for mobile)

Want Credit for Listening to Podcasts?

We’ve got an exciting option for educators interested in receiving credit for their professional development hours through podcast listening! Join the ALL ACCESS PD Pass at Shake Up Learning. This exclusive pass offers a structured way to earn credit while you learn, making it perfect for teachers who want to document their PD efforts and apply them toward their professional growth.

The ALL ACCESS PD Pass provides a comprehensive and flexible learning experience, allowing you to choose from a wide range of topics and episodes that fit your interests and needs. By joining, you not only gain access to a wealth of knowledge but also the opportunity to earn recognition for your commitment to ongoing professional development.

Take your PD to the next level and ensure your learning is recognized. Join now and start earning credit for your podcast PD today!

With the ALL-ACCESS PD Pass, participants can access all of the Master Classes, Online Workshops, Podcast PD, and the Members-Only Library! (*excludes Google Certification Academies).

Includes:

• The AI-Powered Choice Boards Mini-Workshop
• The Google Classroom Master Class
• The Google Slides Master Class
• The Google Meet Master Class
• The Zoom Master Class
• The Dynamic Learning Workshop
• The Blended Learning with Google Workshop
• Includes access to ALL future master classes and workshops!
• Members-Only Library of ebooks and cheat sheets!
• Podcast PD (with credit certificates and new content each week!)
• More than 100 hours of PD credit (with more added soon)!
• More content added every year!
• LEARN MORE AND ENROLL!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

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Get this awesome (and FREE) bundle of Choice Board goodies! Includes Kasey’s eBook, two video presentations, best practices checklist, Canva and Google templates, and tons of tips and resources!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

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So it seems that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the only thing anyone is talking about nowadays.

The ways we can and will be able to use AI in the future are pretty much limitless.

But I have been curious about using it to create one of my favorite student-centered activities–choice boards.

If you watched my Chat GPT vs. Google’s Bard video, you saw a very brief attempt at what was possible with very little input–a bad prompt. (I did this on purpose to see what it would do with the smallest amount of information for comparison.)

But what happens with an engineered prompt? What if we could create something that is effective, engaging, and helps us reach our learning goals?

Enter AI-Powered Choice Boards!

To be clear, I am talking about using tools like Chat GPT and other tools to CREATE choice boards for the classroom.

That means that you don’t have to come up with nine different activities on your own to create a tic-tac-toe.

That means that you don’t have to create nine different rubrics.

Will you still need to tweak it? Absolutely!

Can you do it safely and securely? Yes, I believe so.

Let AI do the heavy lifting and save you time and frustration!

I love choice boards! And I have been sharing tips, tools, and templates for many years.

It’s time to take things to the next level. 

AI-Powered Choice Boards Mini Workshop

I’m developing a one-hour mini workshop called, “AI-Powered Choice Boards.”

Empower and engage your students with student choice and interactive choice boards. Choice boards can help teachers put students at the center of learning, differentiate, and teach valuable skills. In this mini workshop (1 hour), we will explore ways to use AI Tools like Chat GPT, Canva Magic Write, and more to create engaging choice boards aligned with your learning goals.

• Pre-recorded online workshop
• Self-paced
• 1-hour credit certificate
• Learn how to use your standards and learning goals to create POWERFUL choice boards for student-centered learning in the classroom.
• Learn the do’s and dont’s of using AI to protect your data and your students.
• Walk away with templates, AI prompts, and tons of tips and tools!

When is it?

• This workshop is in development as we speak!
• It will be released on August 4th.
• Pre-recorded and available on-demand (watch it whenever is convenient)
• 30-day access (longer if you have the ALL-ACCESS Pass)

Who is it for?

• Any educator who wants to learn how to use AI to create effective choice boards and save time while protecting their data.

How to PRE-ORDER and SAVE $$

• You can pre-order this workshop for ONLY $7!!!!
• The price will go up to $27 on August 4th.

 PRE-ORDER FOR $7

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post AI-Powered Choice Boards Mini Workshop appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Shake Up Learning ALL-ACCESS PASS

With the ALL-ACCESS Pass, participants can access all of the Master Classes, Online Workshops, Podcast PD, and the Members-Only Library! (*excludes Google Certification Academies).

Includes:

• The Google Classroom Master Class (valued at $99/year)
• The Google Slides Master Class (valued at $99/year)
• The Google Meet Master Class (valued at $79/year)
• The Zoom Master Class (valued at $79/year)
• The Dynamic Learning Workshop (valued at $99/year)
• The Blended Learning with Google Workshop (valued at $99/year)
• Includes access to ALL future master classes and workshops!
• Members-Only Library of ebooks and cheat sheets!
• Podcast PD (with credit certificates and new content each week!)
• More than 50 hours of PD credit (with more added soon)!
• Even more exclusive content coming in the 2021-2022 school year!

Total Value is more than $600 per year!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

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In this episode and blog post, I’m sharing a checklist of best practices for creating an effective and engaging choice board for your classroom.

Let’s talk about avoiding pitfalls, grading confusion, and finding balance in time and rigor!

Get the Choice Board Best Practices and FREE Checklist Download!

And grab your FREE, downloadable checklist below.

Listen to this article.

This episode is sponsored by Everfi.

Everyone remembers THAT teacher. The study hall teacher who walked you through your first college application. The social studies teacher who taught you what taxes were AND how to file them. The math teacher who used student loans to show you how interest worked. YOU can be that teacher—and EVERFI wants to help you make that kind of impact with FREE digital lessons for K thru 12 students. From budgets and banking to credit and savings, you’ll find a financial literacy topic that’s right for your classroom. And especially during April, Financial Literacy Month, there’s no better time to equip students with smart decision-making around finances. Learn how you can share these FREE resources with students and give them a financial foundation that lasts a lifetime. Just go to everfi.com/shake. 

Choice Board Best Practices (and Checklist)

What is a Choice Board?

A choice board is a tool that teachers use to provide students with a range of activities or tasks from which they can choose. It can be used to differentiate instruction, provide students with learning options, or offer opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding in creative ways.

*Related: The Teacher’s Guide to Digital Choice Boards (FREE eBook)

Choice Board Best Practices

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot of lessons with choice boards. Many were learned the hard way, so I want to share with you the best practices for designing and implementing choice boards in the K12.

Learning Outcomes

Don’t get distracted by free (and paid) lessons online. If it doesn’t assess what you need it to assess, it is a waste of time. Design your choice board with the end in mind! Align each choice with one or more of your learning outcomes. If you download a template or lesson online, please be sure to revise and tweak this to fit the needs of your students and learning goals.

Activities

Selecting the activities for your choice board is more than just a brain dump of ideas. Take the time to upgrade your old activities that need a refresh before adding to a choice board. Offer a range of engaging activities, and meaningful, incorporate the 4 C’s, and are relevant to the learning objectives. (Use the Dynamic Learning Framework!)

Differentiate

Differentiation is not easy, but it is much more doable when students are offered a wide range of activities and learning paths. Choice board activities should also be differentiated to meet the diverse needs of the students in your classroom. Think about meeting different learning styles, interests, accommodations, and modifications for those that need it.

*Related: Creating Choice Boards with Book Creator

Instructions

Provide clear and concise instructions for each activity. Include the materials needed, the activity’s steps, and any available multimedia resources or supports. Remember, when you post assignment instructions online, it can save you time from answering questions over and over again. If you want some guidance, check out this post: How to Package Your Digital Assignments.

Assessment

Is this assessment OF (summative) or FOR (formative) learning? Determine how student learning will be assessed. Provide rubrics or checklists to guide assessment and provide feedback to students. Remember, the purpose of a rubric is to communicate expectations to the student. If rubrics make grading easier, all the better!

Balance Time & Rigor

Every teacher knows that the time required to complete a lesson or activity will vary greatly by students. If it’s a brand new activity, it’s a guessing game. Try to balance the amount of time required for each choice as much as possible. It will never be perfect, but you don’t want one student completing a ten-minute activity and another student completing a 50-minute activity. Also, try to strike a balance in the level of thinking and rigor needed, so students are challenged equally. Be patient with yourself. This takes time, and trial and error, just like any lesson in your classroom.

Deadlines & Milestones

Decision paralysis is legit! Your instructions should clearly state deadlines for completion, including a deadline for making your choice. Some students will take the entire class period deciding which option they want to complete on the choice board. Give them clear deadlines for making choices. Create milestone deadlines for projects that take multiple days or weeks.

*Related: Interactive Learning Menus (Choice Boards) with G Suite – FREE Templates

Reflection

Provide opportunities for students to reflect and think metacognitively about their learning. Reflection is an essential part of learning so think about how reflection will be embedded into your choice board.

Checklist for Creating an Effective and Engaging Choice Board

Fill out the form below to download the free checklist:

By following this checklist, teachers can create effective choice boards that promote student engagement and creativity.

What would you add to this list?

Choice Board Resources

Check out even more choice board resources on this page.

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Choice Board Best Practices (and Checklist) – SULS0192 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

I’ve been learning how to use Book Creator…and LOVING it!

More specifically, I am experimenting with ways Book Creator can be used to create and implement choice boards in the classroom.

Book Creator is very intuitive and is loaded with student engagement tools.

And I have a brand new idea to share in this post: Weekly Choice Board Books! (Keep reading and watch the video below.)

This post is sponsored by Book Creator.

Creating Choice Boards with Book Creator

Y’all know I love choice boards.

Until now, I have kept things simple and used Google tools. But I am expanding my toolbox and exploring other tools that can offer more for teachers and students.

Book Creator is a content creation tool. Teachers and students can create a library of “books” filled with multimedia content.

So how can we use a book for choice boards?

Let me show you!

We can easily use a page in Book Creator to create a choice board and even use additional pages for templates or include details for the assignment choices.

But I wanted to try something new.

Weekly Choice Board Books

I wanted to create a Weekly Choice Board Book–a book with several choice boards we will use throughout the week.

First, I created my book using one of the comic templates. It already has sections divided, so it seemed perfect for a choice board!

Next, I created a cover using Canva. You can connect apps like Canva to Book Creator, and they already have book cover templates specifically for Book Creator. This was super easy!

Then I started adding pages and creating different types of choice boards.

Bell Ringer Choice Boards

Many teachers like to use bell ringers to get kids settled as class begins.

What if we give them a few choices for their bell ringer activity and reuse this choice board throughout the week?

It doesn’t have to be complicated; I created a bell ringer choice board with six choices. By the end of the week, students will complete all but one, but they can choose which one they want to do each day.

Pick 2 Choice Board

Next, I created what I call the Pick 2 Choice Board. You can easily create a pick 2, 3, 4, etc. The intention on this one is to select one choice from the top row (template-driven activities) and one from the bottom row (videos).

It’s really easy to embed videos in Book Creator, and students can watch them without leaving the app.

Thanks to Shake Up Learning Team member Sarah Kiefer for sharing her history choice board and letting me use her content for this one!

There are two other features that I wanted to try on this page, inserting a voice recording of the directions and linking text to outside resources. Both features are very easy to use and easily found in the menu when you click on the plus sign.

Using the voice recorder to read the directions aloud to students can help all students better understand the expectations and give the teacher extra “room” to elaborate.

Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Board

Last but not least, I had to test out my favorite choice board style, the tic-tac-toe. Since there wasn’t a comic template with nine squares, I just used the shape tool to build it.

The novel study tic-tac-toe is a choice board I created many years ago, and I just copied and pasted the content over from Google Docs (a Book Creator makeover).

Students Creating with Book Creator

Now that you have seen how the teacher can use Book Creator to create, I want to show you the power of having students create with it.

My last page demonstrates different types of student choice activities you could use in Book Creator.

Here’s a quick list of some of the features you can try with students:

• voice response
• embed code: embed videos or any other content with embed code
• use paper backgrounds like graph paper
• draw and auto-draw (AI tool that predicts what you are trying to draw)
• comic strip
• import files from a computer or Google Drive
• text response (Voice typing option is great for all learners.)
• webcam response: take a still photo or video
• create and import from Canva
• image response (search from a copyright-friendly database)
• use comments, emojis, and more!

The possibilities are endless. I have only scratched the surface!

Be sure to watch the video below to see these ideas come to life.

Sign Up for Book Creator

Get started today with a free Book Creator account! You can upgrade later to access all the features.

Book Creator at TCEA 2023

Going to TCEA, be sure to visit the Book Creator booth and catch my presentation on Wednesday.

• 11:00-11:30: Empower & Engage Students with Book Creator Choice Boards with book signing and giveaway (Book Creator Booth #878)

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Creating Choice Boards with Book Creator appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

In this blog post and podcast episode, I’m sharing 10 Things for Teachers to Try in 2023.

We will explore strategies, digital tools, professional learning, and much more!

Are you ready to start fresh, declutter, and make room for new ideas in your classroom this year?

What will you try in 2023?

No matter the subject or grade level, you’re bound to find a great idea just for you. 

Listen to this episode.

10 Things for Teachers to Try in 2023

1. Declutter Your Mind

If you are planning for a positive and productive 2023, you must first start with your mind. If you are like me, you may have lots of tasks, ideas, and clutter distracting you. Clearing my mind and getting all my ideas, thoughts, and worries out on paper (or a Google Doc) helps me get organized on focus on the year ahead.

Try a brain dump. Start by writing or typing down everything that’s cluttering your mind. Don’t worry about organizing it yet (you can do that later.) The point is to get it all out. Then use this to help you plan and organize your day or year. Here are some free brain dump templates from Canva.

How’s your mindset in 2023? Many of you may still feel burnt out. (I do!) A focus on the positive can help shift your mindset. I like to start the day with a devotional. Or look for other daily inspiration, stories, quotes, or try a gratitude journal.

2. Declutter Your Classroom/Workspace

Sometimes the last thing you feel like doing before or after the holiday break is cleaning, but this can reduce your stress level and give you a fresh start to the year.

Here are four easy steps to declutter and organize any space:

1. Clear out and make space to work. This can be loading everything into bins or boxes, or even just moving everything to one side of your classroom.
2. Categorize your items. Group like items together so you can clearly see everything you have.
3. Purge each category. Get rid of stuff you no longer need or use. In my classroom, I often had things like posters and teaching supplies that I would give to new teachers who were building their classrooms.
4. Contain and store your items. Now, let’s get this stuff stored and make your space more functional.

A good declutter clean-up can refresh your space, your mind, and your classroom! 

3. Try Custom Choice Boards 

I’ve been talking about choice boards for years. They truly changed my classroom, and I believe they can help any teacher empower students and differentiate.

In episode 176, I shared my framework for creating custom choice boards (with an infographic). While I love templates and share them frequently, the next step is to create a choice board that is designed to fit the needs of your students.

Templates are quick and easy, but if you rely on ready-made lessons too much, you may realize that are not always aligned with your learning goals.

I use Google Docs and Slides to create many choice boards, but I am currently exploring some new tools for choice board creation. (Look for some Book Creator resources coming soon!)

4. Chat GPT

Unless you have been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard the buzz around something called Chat GPT.

What is Chat GPT?

The beginning…that’s what it is. It will probably blow your mind, and then when you realize this technology is in its infancy, it might scare you.

Chat GPT is a free, online chatbot using artificial intelligence that can fully interact in human-like language. It can answer questions, write essays, generate all kinds of content, write lesson plans, the list goes on and on.

This tool is currently free to use while it is still in development.

Why do you need to know about Chat GPT?

Your students know about it and will use it. This technology will make plagiarism even more difficult to detect, and it means that we must rethink assignments.

For years, I have offered ideas to help teachers create assignments that are not at the top of a Google Search, but this blows Google out of the water. I don’t have all the answers. I wish I did, but I know that this is not going away and that we must work together to figure out how to create assignments for our students.

We cannot pretend that the Internet doesn’t exist when we are in school. Locking down tabs, and blocking websites isn’t the answer. Don’t misunderstand me. Yes, we need to block inappropriate content and protect our students, but we can’t prepare them for a technology-driven world and pretend that these technologies don’t exist.

We can definitely find ways to use things like Chat GPT and other similar AI tools in our learning and assessments. I will be sharing more on this in 2023. For instance, can we have students work together to use Chat GPT to answer questions, then break it apart and rewrite it or categorize it in a different way? This means that we as teachers have to have an awareness of how these tools work.

Spend some time very soon getting familiar with Chat GPT, or check the Beta version of Magic Write in Canva Docs, which uses the same AI language. (More on Canva Docs coming in next week’s episode.)

Related articles and resources:

• What Will ChatGPT Mean for Teaching?
• The College Essay Is Dead
• What is ChatGPT and why are schools blocking it?

5. Adobe Express Challenges

Did you know Adobe has free, ready-made lessons and templates for teachers and students? Each month Adobe offers a new challenge for teachers.

Think of these as ready-made activities for your students, complete with free templates, instructions, and great ideas to help teachers deliver powerful learning moments.

In December, Adobe (in partnership with Khan Academy) released a great mid-year reflection activity for students with free Adobe Express templates. January is the perfect time to use this challenge!

6th-12th Adobe Express Template

Activate student voices this January with fun and easily adaptable prompts from Adobe Express and Animate from Audio!

• Adobe Express – Use Adobe Express templates to create fun backgrounds for your characters. It could be a geography game, a famous person quiz, or a get-to-know-you intro video.
• Animate with Audio – Import your background from Adobe Express into Animate with Audio, pick your character, and record your video to make your project come alive. Animate with Audio is our latest feature and it allows students to bring their voice into a project to make it fun, educational, and informative.

To get started, click here.  Educators who share their student’s work on social media using the hashtag #AdobeEduCreative will be entered to win one of ten classroom sets of Adobe swag.  

6. Use Canva with Students

Canva has been one of my favorite image-creation tools for many years. Most of the graphics you see on this blog and website were created with Canva. But did you know Canva has entered the education space?

Canva for Education is free for teachers and students and is quickly becoming a powerhouse of interactive tools! In episode 169, I shared a treasure trove of back-to-school resources from Canva. Their templates can be huge time-savers. But what I am most excited about is how you can keep your activities inside Canva and interact with students.

Ready to learn more about Canva for Education?

• Tune in to episode 183: 4+ Things You Didn’t Know Canva Could Do. (Will be released on January 17, 2023).
• Get FREE Training on YouTube from teacher and Canva District Engagement Advocate, Scott Nunes.

7. Fight Exclusion in 2023

Every teacher should fight exclusion! In episode 164, I chatted with Mike Marotta, co-author of Inclusive Learning 365. Mike has many practical tips to help teachers reach all students and fight exclusion.

What is Inclusion?

Inclusion is fighting against exclusion. This idea, brought to the table by Chris Bugaj, struck the group as being the best picture of what inclusion means. Mike, and his co-authors, offer a website of resources. One of those resources is a self-assessment tool to examine how well a teacher is providing inclusive strategies. The self-assessment can also be useful in providing new mindsets or shifts for how to provide more inclusive strategies.

Try a new strategy in 2023!

8. Learn on the Shake Up Learning YouTube Channel

The Shake Up Learning YouTube channel is growing every week! We share free training and tips for teachers.

Each week, I share a Google Quick Tip of the Week. These are short videos (usually around 2-4 minutes) sharing a new feature of time-saving tips.

Here’s a list of the Top 10 Quick Tips of 2022.

This year, we are sharing more free training on YouTube. Check out the free training presentations from our team here. You can even catch my The Teachers Guide to Digital Choice Boards presentation here.

More training and tips are coming this year! Be sure you are subscribed to the channel, so you get notified when new videos are posted.

9. Take an Online Course from Shake Up Learning

Did you know that Shake Up Learning offers several online courses and workshops?

All of our courses are self-paced, meaning you learn at a time that is convenient for you. It is all asynchronous, so you can watch lesson videos, pause, stop, rewind and rewatch as much as you need.

ALL Courses offer credit hour certificates (ranging from 3-6 hours).

Online Workshops:

• The Blended Learning with Google Workshop
• The Dynamic Learning Workshop

Online Master Classes:

• The Google Classroom Master Class
• The Google Slides Master Class
• The Google Meet Master Class
• The Zoom Master Class

The ALL-ACCESS PD PASS

Get all the workshops, master classes, and much more with the ALL-ACCESS PASS!

(7-Day FREE Trial)

With the ALL-ACCESS Pass, participants can access all of the Master Classes, Online Workshops, Podcast PD, and the Members-Only Library!

100+ Hours of Professional Learning (with Credit)!!!

Includes:

• The Google Classroom Master Class (valued at $99/year)
• The Google Slides Master Class (valued at $99/year)
• The Google Meet Master Class (valued at $79/year)
• The Zoom Master Class (valued at $79/year)
• The Dynamic Learning Workshop (valued at $99/year)
• The Blended Learning with Google Workshop (valued at $99/year)
• Includes access to ALL future master classes and workshops!
• Members-Only Library of ebooks and cheat sheets!
• Podcast PD (with credit certificates and new content each week!)
• More than 100 hours of PD credit (with more added soon)!
• Even more exclusive content coming!

Total Value is more than $1000 per year!

Try the ALL-ACCESS Pass FREE for 7 Days!

10. Plan for a Productive 2023

I geek out over productivity strategies, planners, and books about planning and productivity–all the things! And I have shared many planning and productivity tips on the podcast and blog.

Check out these resources to help you plan for a productive year!

• Google Keep Tips for a Productive School Year
• Google Productivity Tips to Rock the School Year
• How to Work from Home and Get Things Done
• Productivity Tips and Tools for Teachers and Students

What new tips, tools, and strategies will you try this year? Leave us a comment!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post 10 Things for Teachers to Try in 2023 – SULS0182 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Here are the BEST Blog Posts and Podcasts of 2022!

I have compiled a list of the BEST and most popular Shake Up Learning blog posts and podcast episodes from 2022.

These posts are loaded with the BEST teacher tips and lesson ideas of the year.

A special thank you to all the Shake Up Learning readers and listeners. Y’all are the absolute best!

And thank you for all you do!

Pat yourself on the back for surviving another crazy year!

Let’s take some time to reflect on the positive and make 2023 the best year yet!

Reflection is a critical part of the learning process for teachers and students, so I like to take a look back.

I like to take a more in-depth look at what teacher tips, blog posts, and podcast episodes were the most popular and generated the most comments and traffic.

The goal of this blog has always been to provide teachers with digital learning resources, tips, and tricks, and help teachers find ways to integrate technology meaningfully in the classroom.

This list helps me decide what content to create and how to best help teachers in 2023.

What Do YOU Want to See in 2023?

I want to serve my audience! Help me better serve you by completing this short, 60-second survey. (The form is also embedded at the bottom of this post.)

This survey is your chance to let me know more about you and what you need in 2023.

The Top 20 Posts of 2022

Drumroll, please…Here are the most popular blog posts and podcast episodes of the year!

1. 15 Google Classroom Tips for Teachers

Google Classroom has improved vastly over the years, and teachers have learned how to make the most of this flexible assignment manager and communication hub. These are tips are FOR teachers and recommended BY teachers!

2. Time-Saving Gmail Hacks for Teachers – SULS0149

In this episode, Kasey shares her favorite Gmail hacks and features to help teachers save time and make the most of this robust tool. Let’s get organized, save time and frustration, manage annoying emails, and get to what’s important.

3. 30 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do! (FREE eBook and Templates) – SULS0152

In this special episode, Kasey shares 30 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do and a FREE eBook download with templates! A follow-up to one of our most popular blog and podcast series, Kasey is going to give you even more ideas for student-created projects with Google Slides. There is so much you can create with the Swiss Army Knife of Google!

4. 15+ Ways to Use Drop-Down Menus in Google Docs – SULS0161

In this episode, Kasey explores a new feature in Google Docs–the drop-down menu! Kasey shares 15+ ways for teachers and students to make the most of this creative and customizable new feature, including choice boards, PBL, peer reviews, trackers, and more!

5. 8 Cool Tools You Didn’t Know! (FETC Highlights) – SULS0146

In this episode, Kasey chats with Shake Up Learning Team member, Susan Vincentz about her favorite sessions at the FETC conference. Susan shares 8 Cool Tools You Didn’t Know! Come learn with us and get FETC takeaways!

6. 10 Things for Teachers to Try in 2022 – SULS0140

In this episode, Kasey shares 10 Things for Teachers to Try in 2022. We will explore strategies, digital tools, professional learning, and much more! (10 Things to Try in 2023 coming soon!)

7. 10 Reasons to Think Before You Share Photos of Children Online – SULS0153

The photo may seem innocent to you. You may have parents’ permission and be sharing something awesome, beautiful, or even funny, but there’s a dark side to the Internet that every teacher, administrator, and parent should know. Please think before sharing ANY photos of ANY child online. Here are 10 Reasons to Think Before You Share Photos of Children Online.

8. 20 New Ways to Use Google Classroom [infographic]

Google Classroom can be used for so much more than just your traditional classroom LMS. This powerful tool can provide a space for teacher-to-teacher collaboration, professional learning and support, parent communication, and even special projects and enrichment classes for students. Consider these 20 New Ways to Use Google Classroom.

9. The FREE Lesson Plans and Resources You Aren’t Using! (but should be) – SULS0148

In this episode, Kasey chats with Rich Dixon, Senior Director of Innovative Learning at Hāpara. Rich shares the power of Open Educational Resources (OER)–what they are, where to find them, and how to get started. The FREE Lesson Plans and Resources You Aren’t Using (but should be)–Find free, standards-aligned lesson plans and teaching resources for your classroom. (This episode sponsored by Hāpara.) Stop buying lesson plans and worksheets and access the wonderful free resources available to you!

10. 7 Reasons You Need to Try Voice Typing in Google Docs

Google Docs is fully-loaded with some features that can save us time in and out of the classroom, and oftentimes can even save us a little heartache when it comes to supporting students. One tiny little feature that packs an amazing punch is Voice Typing in Google Docs.

11. How to Create Stop Motion Animation Activities for Students with Google Slides – SULS0179

In this episode, Kasey gives a full tutorial on creating stop-motion activities for students in Google Slides. This special edition podcast is also available as a full video tutorial on YouTube. Let’s discover how easy stop-motion animation can be and learn how to create some fun fall activities for your students.

12. Google Classroom + BookWidgets = Superpowered Digital Classroom – SULS0145

Combine Google Classroom and BookWidgets to superpower your digital classroom! In this episode, Kasey chats with Educational Technologist and BookWidgets expert, Sheryl Place. Sheryl shares the magic of BookWidgets, and how teachers can create engaging online activities that take worksheets from static to dynamic.

13. Must-Have Tips and Tools for Pandemic Teaching – SULS0141

In this episode, Kasey shares her best Pandemic Teaching tips and tools. Everything you need to survive this school year and thrive beyond. Learn practice strategies, organization techniques, and a whole list of tools to make teaching this year EASIER!

14. 10+ Chrome Tips and Tricks for Teachers and Students – SULS0165

There’s no place like Chrome for teachers and students! In this episode, we are jumping into some Google Chrome updates, features, and tips for teachers and students. Let’s learn how to make the most of the Chrome browser, save time and clicks, and get organized.

15. Emoji Assessments for Any Classroom – SULS0168

In this episode, I’m sharing ideas for using emojis in your informal and formative assessments. This tool can be used for more than emotions and SEL! Use emojis to create a key to check for understanding, reflect, self-assess, peer-assess, or give feedback!

16. Google Keep Tips for a Productive School Year – SULS0171

In this episode, Kasey is sharing her latest Google Keep tips and time-savers to help educators have a productive school year. Let’s talk keyboard shortcuts, google calendar connections, labels and organization, checklists, using Canva to create headers, scanning paper documents, annotation, grading and feedback, and more!

BONUS: Get access to Kasey’s FREE Canva headers to use in Google Keep. If you don’t love Google Keep already, you will after this episode!

17. 6 Steps to Creating Custom Choice Boards – SULS0176

In this episode, I’m sharing my brand new framework for designing meaningful choice boards for the K-12 classroom. I will walk you step-by-step through the process to ensure it aligns with your standards and learning outcomes, how to select the choice board style, and share important tips along the way.

18. Back to School Lesson Planning Tips – SULS0167

In this episode, I’m sharing lesson planning resources, tips and templates to help you prepare for the back-to-school season. Let’s explore where to find lesson ideas, how to use and revise templates, free lesson plans, packaging assignments, and pitfalls to avoid!

19. 20 Ways to Use Screencasting in the Classroom – SULS0162

Kasey has been keeping a secret! She’s had early access to Google’s brand-new Screencast app for Chromebooks. In this episode, Kasey is giving you all the details and her thoughts on this new tool for the classroom. Plus, she’ll be sharing 20 Ways to Use Screencasting in the Classroom!

20. Google Productivity Tips to Rock the School Year! (Keep, Tasks, & Calendar!) – SULS0170

I am sharing valuable productivity tips using Google Tasks, Google Calendar, and even a bonus Google Keep tip! Are you making the most of all that Google has to offer? Learn shortcuts, hidden features, and awesome tips to help you save time, get things done, and rock the school year!

Did you catch the Top 10 Google Tips of the Year?

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post The Best Teacher Tips and Lesson Ideas of 2022 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

In this episode, I’m sharing my brand new framework for designing meaningful choice boards for the K-12 classroom.

I will walk you step-by-step through the process to ensure it aligns with your standards and learning outcomes, how to select the choice board style, and share important tips along the way.

Choice boards are a game changer!

Learn how you can implement this strategy, differentiate for your students, and empower them with voice and choice!

Listen to this article.

6 Steps to Creating Custom Choice Boards

This 6 step process is something that has been brewing in my mind over the last several years, and it is definitely still a work in progress. But I wanted to share it with you to help more teachers learn how to create their own custom choice boards.

Choice boards can be intimidating to create from scratch, but they can be so powerful for the classroom.

I also created this handy infographic with the six steps. You can download the PDF here.

I couldn’t fit every detail in the graphic, so be sure to get all the details below.

What is a Choice Board?

IT’S ALL ABOUT CHOICE!

Choice boards (aka learning menus) are a form of differentiated learning that give students a menu or choice of learning activities.

• Choice boards can be created in a variety of styles and mediums.
• They’ve been around for a long time and originated in a static, paper format.
• With digital tools, we can bring the menus to life with interactivity and creation.
• Choice boards are mostly asynchronous! (Learn more about asynchronous learning here.)
• Every student doesn’t have to do the exact same thing at the exact same time!
• Choice boards offer a flexible learning path and help us differentiate.
• Use in ANY grade level or subject area!
• And, they give students voice and choice in their learning!

“…at its core, differentiated instruction means addressing ways in which students vary as learners.”– Carol Ann Tomlinson

Related: The Teacher’s Guide to Choice Boards

Step 1: Purpose & Delivery

When you are designing a choice board, you should ask yourself:

• What is the purpose of your choice board?
  • Build background knowledge/access prior knowledge
  • Check for understanding/formative assessment
  • Summative assessment
  • Enrichment
  • Other
• Where will this be completed?
  • In class
  • At stations
  • In class and homework
  • Homework
  • Online
• Will these activities be completed independently or collaboratively?
• How much time should this take?
  • In-class time?
  • Outside of class time?
  • 20/30/45/60 minutes
  • 1 Day
  • 1 Week
  • 6 or 9 Weeks
  •  Semester-long

Step 2: Determine Assessment Evidence

Begin with the end in mind!

Back in episode 10, I did some on-air coaching with Carly Black. Through the coaching process, Carly determined that the choice board she used with her students didn’t assess what she needed to assess.

You always want to ensure that you know the purpose of your choice board and how students can demonstrate mastery.

• Start with your standards and learning outcomes–what do students need to learn and be able to do?
• How will you know when they get it?
• What activities will demonstrate mastery?

Recommended: Use a rubric aligned with the learning outcomes.

• Rubrics can aid with grading, but the purpose is for the student to understand how they will be assessed, not for the teacher to simplify grading (that’s a bonus!)

Try writing this out in a table:

Step 3: Select Activities

After you have brainstormed activities that align with your learning outcomes, select the best ones for your choice board.

• Each activity should align with one or more of the learning outcomes. You can have several activities aligned with one outcome or separate activities for different outcomes.
• Will these be digital activities, hands-on, paper-based, or a combination?
• Determine how many activities you want students to complete. (If less than three, you may not need a choice board.)
• Some activities can be just consuming content–watching a video, reading an article, etc.
• Do these activities need further differentiation for skill level, learning style, depth of knowledge, or accommodations?

Continue to make revisions and adjustments to your activity list.

Related: Back to School with Choice Boards (FREE Templates)

Step 4: Must-Do Activities & Free Choice

I’m a fan of the must-do, non-negotiable activity. Usually, there is one thing you want ALL students to do–read this article, watch this video, etc.

This can also come in handy for beginners who don’t want to overwhelm with too many choices.

• You can add must-do activities to a choice board so that they must be completed alongside other choices. This could also include a teacher-led lesson, a mini-lesson with a small group, a station, or collaboration.
• Alternatively, you can choose to offer free choice where students propose their own activity. (advanced, not for beginners)

I always use the middle square in my Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Board as the must-do activity. They start there, and then that also gives me more control over how they make their two choices.

Learn more about my instructional design with Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Boards: Interactive Choice Boards with Google (FREE Templates)

Step 5: Select Choice Board Style

Choice boards can look like anything your little heart can imagine. The possibilities are limitless. However, there are some standard styles that can you can use when creating your custom choice board.

Now that you know how many activities you want in your board, select the style that fits best (or create a new one)!

Pick 2/Pick 3/Pick 4 etc.

This one can take many forms, a list, a table grid, or anything that shows students all their options. Then students are directed to select however many activities–pick 2, pick 3, pick 4, etc.

Simple List

Nothing fancy about this one. Remember, choice boards can be a list written on the board. Of course, this can also be a digital list posted somewhere online.

Related: Empower Your Students with The 4 Cs Learning Menu

Point-Based

Many of the lists can also be point-based. The idea is that students select their activities and add up the total points possible.

credit: Laurie Westphal

Tic-Tac-Toe (seen above)

The Tic-Tac-Toe choice board is my all-time fave! And I have shared several different templates for this one over the years. It’s easy. It’s flexible and can be well-balanced.

Related: FREE Interactive Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Board Template in Google Slides

Bingo Board

This is another grid format but with many more squares than tic-tac-toe. This style is great for short activities and experienced choice board students.

Bingo boards work well for early finishers and enrichment activities.

They can be too overwhelming for some students because they have so many choices.

(You don’t actually have to label and use it as BINGO, that’s just a general term I’m using.)

The template above is from Canva. You can access it here.

Restaurant Menu

This is a really fun option. Divide up your activities into the different categories of a menu–appetizers, entrees, sides, and dessert. (Tip: I like to make dessert my non-negotiable and it must be done last!)

I used a Canva menu template to mock up the menu below.

Themed

There are many different types of themes that can make a choice board exciting or engaging. One of my favorites is the Fortnite-themed menu from my friend Tommy Spall.

Grab a copy of Tommy’s Fortnite Menu here.

Game-Based Choice Board

I’ve seen a few choice boards that are designed like common games like baseball. Below is an example from Laurie Westphal.

credit: Laurie Westphal

Step 6: Design

Now it’s time to put your design skills to work! Put it all together using a template or design your own from scratch.

Try to balance the amount of time required to complete and the rigor for each student. (This will never be perfect.)

Static Choice Boards

Static choice boards are those that are typically read-only, can be printed, and do not include links or digital interactivity.

Interactive Choice Boards

Interactive choice boards are those that are digital and typically include links. Many, if not all, of the options, will use technology. You can also include ways for students to select their choices digitally on the board, leave comments, and link back to their products and evidence of learning.

Tools to Create

The tools available to create choice boards are pretty much endless. Use your favorites!

• Google Tools: Google Docs, Slides, Drawings, Sheets, Forms, MyMaps, Earth
• Canva for Education (free templates) 
• Book Creator
• Buncee
• Lumio

What are your favorite tools to create choice boards? Leave us a comment!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post 6 Steps to Creating Custom Choice Boards – SULS0176 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

In this episode, Kasey explores a new feature in Google Docs–the drop-down menu!

Kasey shares 15+ ways for teachers and students to make the most of this creative and customizable new feature, including choice boards, PBL, peer reviews, trackers, and more!

While recording this quick tip Kasey began brainstorming lots of great ideas for how the drop-down menu could help teachers and students.

The drop-down feature can be found under the Insert tool.

Aside from creating a new drop-down, they provide project status and review status preset.

Kasey also shares how to manipulate the drop-down menu so it’s possible to reuse it. 

Listen to this article.

This episode is sponsored by Lumio.

Lumio is a digital learning tool that will transform your lessons into active, collaborative learning experiences. Every day more schools and districts are switching to Lumio – it’s truly a flexible, time-saving tool that makes it easy to turn your PDFs, Google Slides, PowerPoint, and Notebook files into engaging lessons with interactive activities, games, group workspaces, and formative assessment ALL built right in. Boost your student engagement on any devices wherever learning needs to happen. To get Lumio for FREE, head to Lum.io today.

15+ Ways to Use Drop-Down Menus in Google Docs

What is a Drop-Down Menu in Google Docs?

Watch the two-minute video below to learn about drop-down menus and how to insert in Google Docs.

How to Insert a Drop-Down Menu in Google Docs

In Google Docs, go to Insert > Dropdown.

Choice Boards

When using the tic-tac-toe format, insert a drop-down menu into each square for students to indicate their choices. With this type of activity students would need to choose three options so they can do this through the drop-down when you’ve given them their own copy to edit. Often it can be difficult for students to commit to making choices and this can help solve that issue. 

When inserting a drop-down menu it’s possible to copy and paste. However, if you name the drop-down template each of those will appear as a choice to insert.

A tip for teachers using the menu as a way for students to indict their choice: by default, the menu will display with the first option showing. Students may not recognize that they need to click in order to see all the options, or they may think the teacher selected for them. To help, make the first choice say “Choice Board Choices” in the light gray then add the options with a different color to highlight. 

List of Choices

Perhaps your students are being given a list of options, for example, a morning activity. The drop-down can be utilized by adding the entire list. This works best when the choices are short, single words or phrases. 

Consider the idea of morning work in the classroom. A teacher might add a table into a document with three columns. The first column is for the student’s name, the second column has a drop-down menu with each activity choice, and the last column asks a question in a drop-down. Take this idea and run with it! Everyone has their own needs, and hopefully, this might be a management solution that works for you.

Peer Feedback

Trackers are a big favorite with Shake Up Learning. Kasey spoke with Lisa Johnson in episode 32 about all the ways she uses trackers with tables and spreadsheets. This idea uses tables in a Google Doc so it’s possible to use some of the table templates that were shared in podcast episode 159’s quick tip. Many of these templates already utilize drop-down menus that could be helpful. 

The table templates are also found under Insert, Building Blocks. All of the templates are customizable. Consider how the format of the review tracker could be used for any assignment where students are providing peer feedback. This table within the document would allow a teacher to take a quick glance at each pairing and know where they are in the process. 

Progress Tracker

The drop-down menus in Google Docs could be used to track any type of long-term projects, goals, or any skill, or habit.

Project-Based Learning or Big Projects

Another common assignment where a tracker could be helpful would be large projects with multiple steps or pieces. The tracker can be used for tracking each of the milestones throughout the project work process. Organizing a PBL unit in this way automatically creates chunked assignments. 

Reading Tracker

Another great use of the tracker feature with drop-down menus is a digital reading log. A table can be formatted to help students track their reading by date, book title, pages read, and status. Teachers can quickly glance to see if students have not started the book, currently reading, abandoned, or finished. 

Social-Emotional Check-in

Keeping track of students’ emotional status can help track patterns and allow teachers to remain informed. A simple emoji as a choice can work for big kids and littles. Emojis can be added to the drop-down menu with keyboard shortcuts or extensions. 

The table can be added to a document only shared with the teacher to maintain confidentiality. It might also be a good idea to add a notes or journaling option column to allow students to share beyond the five emojis listed. Some kids will open up and others will just share the emoji. Either way, it provides teachers with insight to connect with their students.

Rubrics

The drop-down can be used for both teachers and students. One idea for teachers is to help track student mastery of learning goals. List each goal or standard along with a status drop-down. Each option can be color-coded for a quick visual. It’s also a great idea to include a notes column as well. 

Assessment: Pre, Post, Ongoing, Self

All the assessments! Pre, post, ongoing, self. Each of these can be tracked in a table with drop-down options. Having this information helps teachers personalize learning. 

There is a balance to be reached when creating assessments through the drop-down feature. Can you create an assessment with multiple choice answers in a drop-down menu? Yes. However, it won’t grade itself like a Google Form would, making it much more time-consuming. 

A self-assessment makes more sense to utilize a table with drop-down menus. Allowing students to share where they view their own skills or their status for reaching the learning goals provides insight to help personalize learning. 

Writing Process 

Knowing where students are along the timeline of the writing process can help keep students moving forward and keep teachers informed. Especially teachers who want to or already use a workshop model for writing. 

Rating

A great way for students to share their opinions on books, lessons, speakers, activities, movies and so much more. 

Voting/Polling

Perhaps you are offering a choice to the class or small groups. Set up a table with their choices and use color coding for a quick visual. This could also be useful for administration to use with teachers when there are options. 

When you need a quick look at some type of informal information. Possibly, for teacher professional training it’s necessary to take attendance. A table with drop-down menus can help make that quick and efficient. 

While this table and drop-down menu format are not meant to replace Forms, it is helpful for short pieces of information and low accountability. 

Professional Development

Take many of the ideas above and use them in professional learning with educators! Much of what has been mentioned for using with students could also work in a professional setting of a group of teachers. 

What other ideas are out there? How could you use this new drop-down menu feature within Google Docs? 

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post 15+ Ways to Use Drop-Down Menus in Google Docs – SULS0161 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.