Educational Technology Homepage » Engagement Tools

Engagement Tools

Click on the tab on what you are interested in learning more about:
 
What is Adobe Spark? What can it do?
 
Teacher Note:  It can work on Chromebooks (web-based)
 
How do I get Started?
 
2nd:  Choose the product you want to created: page, video, or post
3rd:  See "Getting Started" below
 
Spark Page (starting in grade 4):  Great for text based projects and assignments that involve a lot of photographs.
 
Spark Page- Getting Started
 
Example Lessons: 
Spark Video (K-12): Create a movie (that can also be narrated) can work for an oral presentation, storytelling, etc
 
Spark Video- Getting Started
 
Examples Products:
Spark Post (students who are old enough for a social media presence): Great for posting ideas or links 
 
Park Post- Getting Started
 
Example Products:
 
 
 
Need Help or Ideas?
 
 
Note to CCUSD Educators: The district has a paid account which means it includes the free account plus detailed analytics on your students results, plus unlimited storage space for your video lessons. 
 
What is Edpuzzle? What can it do?
 
 
How do I get Started?
 
1st:  Visit Edpuzzle and Create an Account:
 
2nd:  Create a Class and Import Students
Elementary and Middle School Getting Started
(Google Classroom Integration)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High School
Create a Class on Edpuzzle:
 
Invite Students 
 Share link and class code through CANVAS
 
 
3rd:  Find or Create a Video: 
 
Reuse video Lessons made by other teachers: 
 
Add/Edit Video Questions:
 
Upload your very own teaching video:
 
4th: Assign the Ed Puzzle:
Elementary and Middle School:
Share through Google Classroom:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HS: 
Assign through Sharing a Link
 
 
5th:  Check Students Progress/Grades
Check Students Response:
Gradebook:
 
Need Help or Ideas?
 
 
Google Tools
 
What is Jamboard?
Quick Overview of what it can do and how it works
 
 
How can we use this in distance learning?
(whole group or assign as a breakout)
Drawing models
Diagrams: ex: Venn Diagram
Drawing Graphs
Math Problem
Annotate text
Brainstorming
Post It notes
 
Tips and Tricks:  Assign a frame to each breakout group.
 
What is Quizizz? What is it used for?
 
 
How is this similar/different than Kahoot? 
Kahoot! and Quizizz both use bright colors and fun music to create an energized, game-like atmosphere.  Students using Quizizz can see both questions and answers on their devices.  With Kahoot!, however, students' devices display color and symbol choices only, the actual answers must be viewed on the classroom screen.
 
Getting Started:
 
 
2.  Find an Already Created Quizizz or Create a Quizizz
How do I find and use an already created Quizizz?
 
Written Instructions
  • Log in to your Quizizz
  • If you ate searching for something specific, get started by clicking Search on the left side menu.  typing a keyword or phrase into the search on the left slide menu.
 
How do I create a Quizizz and use multiple questions from different assessments?
  • Start with clicking Create in the left hand menu
  • Click Teleport and search and choose a questions from different Quizizz.
Create a New Quiizizz
 
Written Instructions:
  • Log in to your Quizizz account. 
  • Click Create in order to create a new quiz.  Enter in quiz information (name, language, . . . )
  • Add questions and answer choices. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.  How do I assign a Quizizz? (synchronous or asynchronous)
 
4.  How do I see the results?
 
What is Nearpod?  What can it do?
 
 
How do I get Started?
 
 
Step 2:  Create your Lesson
Choose from the editable ready-to-run lessons (8,000 read-to-run-editable lessons and customize any of them to fit your students needs!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Create your own Lesson:
 
 
Option 2:  Start in google slides (add on Nearpod extension) 
 
nearpod lessons
Make it Interactive
Then make things more interactive by adding Virtual Field Trips, Collaboration boards, Quizzes, Polls, Matching Pairs activities.
 
 
Step 3:  Lauch a Lesson
Synchronous Asynchronous
 
Step 4:  Check your Students Work
 
Other:
What is News ELA? What can it do?
 
Teacher Note:  If your site does not have a paid account there is a free version, it just has CCMS has a paid Newsela Account.
Newsela ELA
Nesela Social Studies
Newsela Science
 
Getting Started
 
If your students use Clever: (new user)
  • Login to newsela.com
  • Click Join Now
  • Newsela will ask you a few questions about your role and your school: . If you are a teacher, parent, administrator please select I'm an Educator for full access to subscription.  
  • Click Clever.
  • You'll see your School/District Clever login page.  Log in using your School/District Clever credentials.
  • Make sure to use your school email address.  This helps connect you to your school.
  • You will receive a verification email from Newsela.  If you don't receive a verification email, contact them.
If your students use Google Classroom (first time)
  • Login to newsela.com
  • Click Join Now
  • Newsela will ask you a few questions about your role and your school: . If you are a teacher, parent, administrator please select I'm an Educator for full access to subscription.  
  • Click Google.
  • Enter your School/District Google credentials
  • Make sure to use your school email address.  This helps connect you to the right school.  
  • You will receive a verification email from Newsela.  If you don't receive a verification email, contact them
 
 
If your Students use Canvas:
  • Log into Canvas.
  • Open a published class in Canvas.
  • Click the Newsela link in the course navigation menu on the left side of the screen to open Newsela.  (If you do not see that link, follow these steps.) Remember to always sign into Newsela through Canvas.
Note: If you don't see Newsela in your Canvas account, you can find information for resolving the issue on this page.  If the issue still cannot be resolved, our district Canvas administrator may need to complete the setup by following these steps.
 
 
 
 
 
2nd Create a Class through (choose one of the following ways: Clever, Google Classroom, or Canvas)
If your students use Clever:
In Newsela, go to your Classes page by clicking your name in the upper right-hand corner and selecting the Classes tab from the setting menu.
  • Click Synch with Clever.
  • Select the classes you want to import, choose a grade level and subject for each, then click Import Selected Classes.
  • You may need to wait for the sync to complete.
  • To Confirm that your students are in your class go to your Student page.  Under each class name, you'll see a list of students in the class.  The student roster in Newsela should correspond your roster.
Imported students will see your classes on their setting page.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If you have a google classroom:
  • Go to your Classes page by clicking your name in the upper right-hand corner and selecting the classes tab from the setting menu.
classes tab
  • Click Sync with Google.
  • Select the classes you want to import, choose a grade level and subject for each, then click Import Selected Classes.
sync with google
  • You may need to wait for the synch to complete.
  • To confirm that your students are in your class, go to your Students page.  Under each name, you'll see a list of students in each class.  The student roster in Newsela should correspond to the student roster in Google Classroom.
Import students will see your class on their settings page.  You can learn more about syncing your Google Classroom in this video.
If your students use Canvas:
  • In Newsela, go to your Classes page by clicking your name in the upper right-hand corner and selecting the Classes tab from the settings menu.
  • From the Classes tab, click Sync with Canvas and choose the classes to import from Canvas into Newsela.
  • From the pop up menu, choose the course you would like to sync with Newsela and click "sync Selected Classes'.
    • Do not sync Canvas PD courses with Newsela.  Synching courses in which teachers are enrolled as students will restrict access to features of the content.
  • After the initial sync, class rosters will sync automatically when you log in through Canvas.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Need to add a student who was just added to your class?
1.  Go to your Classes page by clicking your name in the upper right-hand corner and selecting the classes tab from the setting menu.  
2.  Click Synch with (Clever, Google, or Canvas)
3.  Select the classes you want to import, choose a grade level and subject for each, then click Import Selected Classes.  You may need to wait for the sync to complete.
4.  To confirm that your students are in your class, go to your Students page.  Under each class name, you'll see a list of students in the class.  The student roster in Newsela should correspond to your roster.
 
 
What is Pear Deck?  What can it do?
 
Synchronous (Overview)
Asynchronous
 
 
How do I get Started?
 
  • Go to peardeck.com
  • Click on Teacher Login.
peardeck login
 
Step 2:  Build your slides
  • You can make Pear Deck presentations in either Google Slides or PowerPoint Online using the Pear Deck for Google Slides Add-on or the Pear Deck for PowePoint Online Add-in.  Here's how:
 
In Google Slides:
Google Slides Video Directions:
 
Google Slides Written Instructions
1.  Open any presentation.  Put the prompt, question, image, etc.  that you want students to see on the main body of the slide. 
2.  Go to Add-ons> Pear Deck > Open Pear Deck Add-on to open the Pear Deck Slidebar.  If you haven't gotten the Add-on yet, first click Get add-ons to install Peardeck.
google slides add on
3.  In the Pear Deck Sidebar, go to the Ask Students a Question section to add an Interactive Response for Students to the slide.
4.  You can also open the Template Library to insert pre-made Interactive Slide Templates to your presentations.
 
In PowerPoint Online:
Video Instructions for Power Point Online & Pear Deck:
 
Written Instructions for PowerPoint Online & Pear Deck:
1.  Open any presentation.  Put the prompt, question, image, etc.  that you want students to see on the main body of the slide. 
2.  Go to Home> More Options (three-dots menu) > Pear Deck.
powerpoint example and pear deck
3.  In the Pear Deck Sidebar, go to the Ask Students a Question section to add an Interactive Response for Students to the slide.
4.  You can also open the Template Library to insert pre-made Interactive Slide Templates to your presentations.
 
 
Step 3:  Lauch a Lesson
1.  Select lesson you want students to complete (google drive or one drive for power point)
2.  Open the Pear Deck sidebar and click
  • Powerpoint Online Add in:  The green Present Lesson
  • Google Slides Add-on: Start Lesson
present lesson/start lesson
 
Synchronous Asynchronous
  • Choose Instructor Paced Mode, the Projector View opens for you.  If you choose 
instructor pased
  • Get the five-letter Join Code OR copy the Session link (lick Give students a link) and share it with students.  Students either go to joinpd.com and enter in the code, or simply click on the link to join.  (google classroom specifics).
how to join peardeck
  • Choose Student-Paced Mode.
student paced
  • Get the five-letter Join Code OR copy the Session link (lick Give students a link) and share it with students.  Students either go to joinpd.com and enter in the code, or simply click on the link to join.  (google classroom specifics).
 
how to join peardeck
 
 
Step 4:  Check your Students Work
 
Have Questions?  Need more Resources?
 

 

Pear Deck has a plethora of training opportunities for your teachers through our website:

 
What is Padlet?  What can it do?
 
What is Padlet?
 
What are some different ways to use Padlet? 
 
How can I get started?
 
1.  Visit http://padlet.com and select "Sign up for FREE".
(Use our Gmail to sign in)
 
2.  Create a Padlet/Adjust Settings
 
3) Share Padlet with your class:
 
(have students login/sign up so you can keep track of who is posting)
What is Kahoot? What can it do?
 
 
How do I get Started?
 
 
2.  Find an Already Created Kahoot or Create a Kahoot
How do I find and use an already created Kahoot?
 
Written Instructions
  • Log in to your Kahoot! account and navigate to Discover from the top bar.
  • If you ate searching for something specific, get started by typing a keyword or phrase into the search bar at the top of the Discover section.
  • We'll autosuggest popular Kahoots that fit your search terms, but if you want to dig deeper, you can filter by Subject, Grade Level,  and other filters.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Create a New Kahoot:
 
Written Instructions:
  • Log in to your Kahoot! account.  Click Create and choose New Kahoot.
  • Start typing your first quiz question.  Add answers alternatives and mark the correct answer(s).
  • Tune the timer and points depending on the complexity of the question.
  • Add an image b uploading it from your computer or choosing one from our image library.  You can also embed a  Youtube link.
  • Click Add question on the left-hand side.  With a free Kahoot! account, you can add multiple-choice quiz and true and false questions.
  • After you've added questions, click Settings above to add a catchy title, fill out summary details and add a cover image.  Hit Done!
 
 
How do I assign a Kahoot?
Synchronous

Written Instructions:
  • Find the Kahoot you'd like to play, click Play and choose Teach.
  • Adjust game options- Choose whether students play individually (Classic mode) or in Team Mode.
  • A unique Game PIN will be displayed at the top of the screen.  Students enter this Pin to join the game in the Kahoot! app or at Kahoot in their browser.
  • Click Start once you can see all the players' nicknames in the "lobby".   During gameplay you can use the spacebar or your mouse to go onto the next question.
  • After the game, you can always find and assess results in Report Section. 
 
How do I play a synchronous Kahoot remotely?
distance learning kahoot
Asynchronous
 
Written Instructions:
  • Open a Kahoot you'd like to play, click Play and choose Assign.
  • Follow the instructions and set a deadline when you'd like the game to be completed.  Adjust game options.
    • Turn off question timer to make the game all about accuracy
    • Randomize answer order to prevent guessing
  • Hit Create and copy the challenge link.  Share it with your students- for example, via email or directly to Google Classroom or Remind.  Alternatively, you can share the PIN of the game.
  • By joining the game via a link or PIN, students play it at their own pace on a computer or mobile device.
  • Same as a live game, you can find results of student-paced challenge in Reports.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Need Help?