BYOT in the Middle School Math Classroom

So far in my experience with BYOT, students have used their own technology in a variety of ways in my classroom. Students can access my notes that are posted on my website, saving them the time it takes to copy notes. I also post tutorial videos on my website of how to solve different types of problems (depending on the unit we are in) that students can access on their devices and use as a tutorial. Students have used their devices to answer math writing prompts and submit their responses to me via email or gaggle. I also did a lesson on solving multi-step equations where a video from Gaggle provided the instruction and practice. Students could watch the video on the SMART Board if they did not have a device or on their own devices to work at their own pace. There are many different apps that I have showed the students, such as Evernote for taking notes. I look forward to learning many more ways to implement this technology in my classroom but have enjoyed the experience so far.

Continuing the Conversation: Using VoiceThread to Simulate the Oral Tradition

The eighth grade at Lakeside used VoiceThread to simulate oral tradition.  It's free and Internet-based, and it's even available as an app for Apple products.

VoiceThread splash page

 Our Technology Facilitator helped our students by VoiceThread and showing them how to sign up for accounts and experiment with the technology.  Afterwards, students worked in their groups to create their VoiceThreads where one story led to another.  Every student also commented on each group's VoiceThread.

Red Riding Hood VoiceThread by our 8th graders

To the left is an example of one of the finished products.

Upcoming:  Find out how we used VoiceThread again in a pre-reading activity that resulted in high-interest reading and deeper thinking into the next novel we read!