Tools that are useful across multiple modalities

Some tools are great for use in person, while others are great for use online. But what we really love are tools that work well in multiple modalities! ​

Padlet

Padlet is an online bulletin board where students can post either synchronously or asynchronously.

• PROS: Free version, EASY, choose from layout templates, customize background, now includes various rating systems for posts.  Available in desktop or mobile version.
• CONS: The free account is limited to a total of 3 padlets at any given time. You can upgrade to a paid account, but maybe try it out on the free version first, to make sure it's worth the price tag to you:

Click the image to go to the November 2020 LOL session on Padlet, with Guest Presenter (and CTLA Instructional Designer) Kali Andrews!

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Pear Deck (for Google Slides)

Pear Deck can be incorporated in your Google Slides to be presented synchronously during class to add interactive questions (participants can respond via laptop or other mobile device), or asynchronously within Canvas to break up the content with reflective or evaluative questions.

• PROS: Pear Deck makes slide presentations fun & engaging, while allowing the instructor to "take the temperature" of the group for quick classroom assessments! Taking advantage of the Pear Deck add-on for Google slides means that embedded slides within Canvas (or other LMS) become guided assignments for asynchronous learners.​
• ​CONS:  Definitely try the 30-day free trial of Pear Deck first; the "draggable" and "drawing" question types are premium features. If you can't live without those, you'll have to cough up $150 (okay, I'm exaggerating - it's only $149.99...) per year. Yes, this is the Educator's discounted price.

​Click the image to go to the September 2020 LOL session on Pear Deck. This recording is a great resource, because we recorded the student experience AND the instructor experience, so you can see them simultaneously!

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PollEverywhere

Participants are able to submit their responses via text in class, and the results are compiled in real time for the entire class to see. PollEverywhere can also be used asynchronously, with students responding via a web link.

• PROS: Free account available. Real-time polling in class without added hardware (no clickers needed - just student phones), or asynchronously via the web. Question types include multiple choice, open ended, clickable images, and up/down voting. Real-time results for open ended questions can be displayed in multiple ways, including full responses on a scrolling wall, ticker display, and word cloud.
• CONS: The biggest drawback for many is that the free account is limited to 40 respondents per poll.

Click the image for this intro video. For more resources, check out PollEverywhere's collection of video guides.