Resources for Increasing Learner Engagement

Stumped on how to make your classes more interactive? Listed below are links to some resources which you or your students can use to stimulate learning.

 Whether you embrace technology with open arms or are reluctant to wade into the options and opportunities, the tools identified below provide opportunities for both instructors and learners to create learning activities.  When teachers use the tools, learning activities can be used in traditional classrooms, but may also be used in Blackboard or in other ways online.  When students are invited to use the tools, they create learning activities for themselves that they can share with peers or submit in lieu of traditional assignments.  What would you rather grade?  A role play written by a student as a text based submission or an animation that you listen to and watch? 

1. Wordle - this application takes text and creates a visual rendition of the main messages.  Larger words are those that are used more often in the passage.   Some instructors use them as a visual to introduce a unit or topic.  http://www.wordle.net/
2. Eclipse Crosswords - this application does require a program to be installed on your computer, so if you do not have administrator rights, you will need to ask IT to download it for you.  http://www.eclipsecrossword.com
   • Once created, you can embed these crossword puzzles into websites such as wikis or even into your Blackboard course.
   •  Students can create their own crosswords and then have other classmates complete them.
3. Glogster - Create posters  and then link various media to the poster such as a website, video clip, or image.  http://glogsteredu.edu.glogster.com/
   • Here's an example that was placed on an instructor's course wiki for an example http://kcoad1.wikispaces.com/Laura%27s+Demo\
4. Quizlet - create flash cards and other study activities http://quizlet.com
5. Inspiration (BVC Education network computers only).  This software is available for students to use on the computers in the Library & Learning Commons (and maybe other places too).  It is mind mapping / concept mapping software.  http://www.inspiration.com/  There may be a  30 day free trial available too.
6. XMInd (http://www.xmind.net/)and Cmap (http://cmap.ihmc.us/)  are free mind mapping tools you can use / download.  Encourage students to create a visual mind map for each chapter.  You can use them as pre-assessment and post-assessment activities and compare the details in the maps to demonstrate learning.  
7. Xtranormal.com - create quick animations - www.xtranormal.com  Here's an example - http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6488739/professor_popson
8. Animoto.com - upload pictures, add music for a slideshow.
9. Teachit World http://www.teachitworld.com/ - although promoted as an ESL resource, you can use it to build vocabulary with some of the tools found here (or students can build learning activities for each other)
10. Hot potatoes - http://hotpot.uvic.ca/ (requires a download) - allows you to create six different types of activities - multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, jumbled sentence, matching, short answer &  crossword.  Students could also use to create their own learning activities.  These can be embedded onto webpages such as Blackboard
    • Jerry's vocabulary ( uses hot potatoes) - helps build academic vocabulary  that can assist student in understanding academic articles.  http://www.cpr4esl.com/gerrys_vocab_teacher/index.html 
11. GoAnimate.com  On this site, you can quickly and easily create animations. You can encourage students to create their own  case studies or scenarios to demonstrate their understanding of specific theories or techniques  or you can create some for learning activities.  Create animations and have learners assess the correctness of the technique or the depiction of a concept.
12. VoiceThread - Students need to create (free) accounts to engage with this application.  It can provide an interesting way to engage students' reactions or opinions.  An image can be uploaded and then comments are invited by "threads" on the image or statement.  You can upload several images for digital storytelling or upload a PowerPoint slide with a provocative statement on it and solicit students' opinions.  Commenting via text, audio or video (webcam) options are available.  (http://www.voicethread.com)  .  Here's a link to the Voicethread for Education wiki.

Looking for more? 

Check out these tools:  http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com

 To speak with a Teaching & Learning Consultant, please e-mail tlc@bowvalleycollege.ca.