Screenshots in a Zoom Class

No running. No talking over others. No copying.

Remixed from Image by Coffee Bean from Pixabay

Today I had to ask my students to not do something I would never have thought of when I first started cheating - no screenshots of our online class meetings. 

Taking screenshots is one of the first skills I teach students. Not only is it useful in everyday life, but it is a good deterrent for cyberbullying.

Today during our online class, one student was thinking out loud and said he was going to take a screenshot of the class when another was doing something silly.

It was a good chance to remind the students of a few things:
1) You don't have permission to take others' pictures
2) You are taking pictures of other students' houses
3) There are names on Zoom and that information cannot get out
4) Let's respect each other and not be silly in class, but also respect other people's privacy

We have been focusing on the other online meeting agreements, and this one did not even occur to me.

Tech Ideas for a BLM Learner

Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash

I got an email from a friend asking what kinds of activities I could suggest for an EAL / ELL / BLM student.

The request was for ideas and things the student could do independently.

Here are the ideas I shared back.

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1. Google docs voice typing. 

Write a few sentences that you want her to practice. Then below type 1, 2, 3. Have her voice type to practice her pronunciation. (Idea from 

EXAMPLE

I live in Taiwan. 

1. voice type

2. voice type

3. voice type

I live in Japan. 

1. voice type

2. voice type

3. voice type

2. QR code listening activity

When I taught Grade 1, I would select articles for students to practice their reading. I copied them onto paper and attached a QR code that led to me reading the article. 

For a middle school student, depending on her level, you might be able to find Newsela articles, give her the link to the article and your reading. 

Here is a few examples I made for my Grade 1 class a few years ago. 

 Audio Book QR Codes

3. Book Creator book about herself - she does the speaking

She could do a project in Book Creator introducing herself. BC allows you to record audio and it is really easy to share out your book after you are done. Here is an example, it's elementary but shows adding audio.

This could be done with whatever she is learning.

Or, if you want to spend a little time, you could create this kind of book for her.

4. Video diary

I was thinking it would also be good to track her progress by having her do a video diary.

5. Words Their Way Word Work

You could have her do some word sorts from words their way. You could have a recording of the pronunciation, then have her record herself saying the words.

6. App - https://iknow.jp/ (paid)

This is not free, but I used to use it. 

I think I would do a station rotation model of 3-4 of these activities. 

Another site I just thought of is elllo. It has a ton of English-learning activities on there. 

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A New Set of Essential Agreements

Just like IRL (in real life), the online classroom has evolved. And with new changes, there comes a time to try to keep things in order.

Copy this Template            Download 

I made this today for my class. It is a summary of the essential agreements we came up with last week. 

Together When We Are Apart

I really like the idea of Zoom "play dates" for the kids.  When I first started meeting my class for circle time we would play a Kahoot together. They really liked that. We should do it again soon.

Last weekend my students organized themselves and watched a movie together through Zoom. When I joined they were all playing on their phones and weren't even watching the movie. They were just being together.

I think kids need that right now.

I need that right now.