I work in a large urban district and my school is the largest in that district with a projected 1,650 students. We have been distance learning since the stay at home order was issued on March 13th. My students are kind and creative, but often they are deflated by the sterility of the limited educational technology and materials provided for them. My students are vibrant and enthusiastic, but sometimes, when they encounter traditional texts and boring handouts online, you see their enthusiasm go out and their engagement stops.
My students deserve access to the most engaging distance learning methods.
I want them to enter my virtual room and instantly feel like this is a space they can connect in, and get to the serious business of learning in the same ways they always have in my physical room.
My Project
How many times have you been to a presentation, slide show, seminar, or other way to get information and are bored silly? Students are the same way, but by using more student input, asking for their feedback and opinions, and generally engaging them during the presentations, they can learn better and remain present in the lesson.
Software designed to help continuously engage and challenge students is needed in this time of distance learning.
Pear Deck allows teachers to upload traditionally created PowerPoints and slideshow presentations and modify them so they are interactive including live student think alouds to questions, draw response answers, drag and drop replies, on the fly questions to help clarify misconceptions. As a teacher, I can save student replies to document student learning, which is essential to keeping good records of student skills.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Chenault and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.