This document discusses how digital tools can be used to support 21st century learning. It describes today's learners as multi-taskers who are digitally literate, mobile, social, and have short attention spans. It suggests teaching focus on analysis, evaluation, inquiry and problem solving rather than memorization. A variety of free digital tools are presented for creating word clouds, concept maps, student response systems, annotated images, videos, comics and connecting with experts. Considerations for using technology in the classroom like access, learning styles and mixing up activities are also discussed.

1. Digital Toolbox for
st Century Learning
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Britt Gow
Al-Taqwa College 2013

17. How is it different?
• Very fast – almost instant – sharing of audio, text
and images.
• Much more data stored in smaller spaces.
• Visual data are more prominent.
• Global access – few restrictions to
communication across the world.
• 24/7 – not restricted to 9-to-5 on weekdays
‘school’ or ‘working’ hours.
• Anyone can publish – not just the ‘experts’.
• Many more opportunities to find people of
similar interests.

18. Today’s Learners are:
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Multi-taskers
Digitally literate
Mobile and connected 24/7
Experiential
Social
Visual/spatial learners
Fast response times, short attention spans
© 2006 “Teaching the 21st Century Learner”
http://depd.wisc.edu/series/06_4168.pdf

19. What does this mean for teaching
and learning?
• Teachers are no longer the “font of all
knowledge”.
• Students don’t need to memorize facts.
• Questions shouldn’t be easily ‘googled’.
• Instead of rote learning; analysis, evaluation
inquiry, problem-solving and creation should be
the focus.
• Students need to be taught to evaluate the
reliability of information.
• Opportunities for peer collaboration with likeminds – “Collective Knowledge Construction”

22. Voice recording
• For reluctant writers and students with
literacy difficulties
• Assess the understanding of concepts in
science (predict, observe, explain)
• Tell stories and then convert to text
• Blabberise
• Voki
• Voicethread

23. Notice boards and sticky notes
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Brainstorming
Exit slips – what have you learnt?
Questions students have about a topic
Surveys – what do you want to learn?
Reminders
Padlet (formerly Wallwisher)
Linoit

24. Wallwisher at http://wallwisher.com

25. Linoit for student feedback
http://linoit.com/users/brittgow/canvases/Web2.0%20tools%20I%20have%20used

26. Word clouds
• Wordle and Tagxedo
• Brainstorming at the beginning of a unit
• As a check that students have understood all
the terms used in a topic
• A summary of a unit of work

28. Tagxedo for word clouds

29. Concept maps
• Bubbl.us, Freemind and Inspiration
• At the beginning of a unit to outline the scope
• Student-created product to demonstrate
understanding of a topic

30. Bubbl.us for concept maps

33. Socrative at
http://www.socrative.com/
• Student response system via smartphones,
laptops and tablets (apps for iPads).
• Collate data, gain feedback and revision
questions.

34. http://www.thinglink.com/

35. Thinglink
• Create annotated images that contain links to
websites, videos, cartoons, other images etc.
• Not just a static image, but a dynamic,
interactive display.
• Use for student research projects, extension
work and introductions to new topics.

37. Voicethread
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Voice
Text
Annotations with colour
Can be embedded in blogs, wikis etc.
Multiple people can comment on images
Can upload photos or videos from files, Flickr
Searchable
Assessment tool

38. Quizlet at http://quizlet.com/

39. Quiz revolution

40. Quizzes
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Terms and definitions
Student created for peer assessment
Quizlet has options (flashcards, study, test)
Can add images with Quiz Revolution
Saved online and searchable

41. Google Drive

42. Google Drive
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Shared documents
Shared presentations
Create forms (for student surveys)
Embed into blogs and wikis

43. Students can create their own webpage in a wiki and
use the URL to create a QR (quick response) code that
directs the user to the information in their webpage.

45. QR codes
• Treasure hunts
• Mystery organs/systems/animals/plants
• Link to student-created quizzes, videos, wiki
pages
• Add to school magazine to show student work
online
• QR code generator at
http://www.qrstuff.com/

46. Comics and cartoons

49. "Pivot" is software that allows creation
of stick figure animations that can be
converted to video.

50. Your students can enter the 60 second science
competition by explaining a scientific concept.
http://www.60secondscience.net/

51. Tools for connecting with experts
How can I bring experts into the classroom to
connect with students?
• Twitter
• Skype
• Blackboard Collaborate
• Facebook

52. @genegeek
Catherine Anderson,
a geneticist from
Canada.

54. @ScienceMags
Magdeline Lum, a
Metallurgist, photographer
and science writer from
Perth

55. http://magdelinelum.com/

57. We use Skype and Blackboard Collaborate to
connect with our Scientist in Schools partner,
Melissa Toifl, from CSIRO Land and Water
Technologies, in Highett and Clayton.

60. Products for Assessment
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Blogs > global2 or edublogs
Slideshows > Slideshare
Animations > ToonDo
Cartoons > ComicLife
E-Posters > Glogster
Digital stories > Photostory
Team work > Wikispaces
Mash-ups > Windows Movie Maker; iMovie
Videos > You-Tube; Vimeo

61. Practical considerations
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Technology does not replace experiments
Does every student have access to devices?
Does every student have internet access?
Preferred learning styles?
Concentration span – mix it up!
Plan B and Plan C
Best tool for the job of learning

62. Thank you!
Email - Brittgow@gmail.com
Twitter - @brittgow
Technoscience blog http://technoscience.global2.vic.gov.au
Digital toolbox –
http://digitaltoolbox.wikispaces.com