On the Eleventh Day of Christmas...11 Digital Instructional Strategies

On the eleventh day of Christmas, F.i.T. gave to me 11 digital instructional strategies you can use in your technology integrated classroom. Provided students with a variety of ways to learn promotes success for all students. Challenging them to think in creative ways helps motivate and inspire them to learn.

1.       The Author’s Chair is a strategy that provides a way for the student to share with other students their favorite moment in a reading or their own writing. Teachers can use the Author’s Chair with the use of a Talking Worksheet. Students can include their writing and record a selected piece of the reading or their writing. Have students rotate to other student’s iPads, computers, etc. and read and listen to their peers Talking Worksheet. Leave sticky notes at reach iPad, computer, etc. for students to leave responses and comments.

2.      Concept Maps is a great way for students to explore learning through the gathering and sharing of information. Concept maps can be used to show a relationship among different topics, brainstorm ideas, or organize thoughts. Students can use such digital tools as Inspiration, Minddomo, Gliffy, or Flowchart.

 

3.      Think – Pair – Share is a strategy that allow students to think about a concept, reading, or steps to solve a problem, pair with a peer to discuss the reading or solve the problem, and share their thoughts or outcome. Students can use an app such as Corkulous to create their thoughts of a passage, problem, etc. Then pair students together and have them discuss their thoughts. Have student share their thoughts and/or discussions with their partners with the entire class.

 

4.      Many apps such as SonicPic or StoryKit  will allow you use the Jig Saw method in your class. Assign students to a base group of 4 to 5 students. Have students to number off within their group. Assign topics to the base group members. Students move to their expert groups. Students work with members of their expert group to research/read/learn the topic. Expert groups create a short presentation to present to their base group. Students return to their base groups and take turns teaching their group members the material using their presentation.  See the Printable Page for a printable instruction sheet.

 

5.      Speed Dating is a fun strategy to review concepts, vocabulary words, chapter summaries, etc. Create 2 circles, a inner and an outer. Space is a must for this strategy because students in the inner or outer circle will be moving. Assign students a review problem, vocabulary word, or chapter review to create a presentation on. Many different digital tools can be used for this based on your assignment. Students share their presentation for a certain amount of time. When time expires, they move to the next person. See the Printable Page for a printable instruction sheet.

 

6.      Pause Breaks is lesson chunking. You can use pause breaks in many ways. If given a problem, reading passage, or prompt, have students turn around and discuss their problem, reading, or prompt to a partner. Students can write a summary in Notes or some other writing tool or use an interactive whiteboard app and share it with a neighbor.

 

7.      Acting It Out is a strategy that allow students to act out a problem or situation to help students deepen a student’s understanding of a topic. Digital tools such as Go Animate or Sock Puppet are great for this strategy.

 

8.      Alphabet Summary is great for reviews. Assign each student with a different letter of the alphabet and have them pick a word or concept that was discussed in class. Students can use digital tools such as SonicPic, ScreenChomp, or DoddleBuddy to create and present.

 

9.      Choice Boards or Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Boards is a strategy that offers students a way to make a decision on how they will learn or practice their understanding on topic. See the Printable Page for a sample Tic-Tac-Toe Board The internet as a wealth of examples for review.

 

10.  Flashcards is a strategy that students can create note cards with a question, problem, or fact. There are many online flashcards tools that students can use to create and review flashcards.

11.  Exit Slips and Warm-ups are strategies that can be used to assess prior knowledge, get an understanding of how well students understand a topic, reflection, etc. Exit Slips and Warm-ups can be surveys, writing prompts, or problems for student solve. This can be given to students using Socrative or a digital survey tool.  See my post on Exit Slips for ideas!