In episode 28 of the Educational Duct Tape Podcast, Mike Mohammad joined me for a chit-chat. One of the topics that we discussed was student voice. I posed the question, “How can educators provide opportunities for student voice?”
Mike promptly made the distinction between student voice and student choice. While both are powerful things to leverage in the classroom, they are very different (though we often lump them together, as Mike pointed out).
I think that educators’ definitions for the term student voice are inconsistent – some seem to believe that it simply means
– hearing each student’s answer or thinking
– while others believe that it means empowering the students to have a voice in some (or all!) aspects of their education.
Mike made it clear in his response that he subscribes to the 2nd “definition” of student voice. His response fits with the description that Edutopia uses: student voice involves letting “students’ input and expertise … help shape their classroom, their school, and ultimately their own learning and growth.”
I definitely believe that that is the type of student voice that we want to strive for. In a recent #EduDuctTape chat, educators shared their favorite tool for empowering student voice. It’s important to note that simply using the tool doesn’t provide opportunity for or empowerment of student voice. It’s all about how you use it.
Here are some of their responses:
1. Flipgrid
Flipgrid is a fantastic tool for hearing from each student! Students can respond with a video–with or without their face showing–and can leverage lots of creative tools to personalize their video and message. Check out the Educators’ Guide to Flipgrid here.
A3: My favorite tool for giving students a voice is @Flipgrid. From a private grid for students to communicate questions and concerns with T to grids with QR codes for students to share projects with everyone- the options are so expansive. #EduDuctTape https://t.co/6H8Z3aaM69
— Kristen Vollmar (@k_vollmar) October 10, 2019
A3: My go to tools for #StudentVoice are @Flipgrid, discussion questions, and comments in #GoogleClassroom. It does take time and trying to get kids responding. I use @ShakeUpLearning TAG to get kids communicating effectively. #EduDuctTape https://t.co/1ef2LQ3wnB
— Kimberly Wren (@kwren18) October 10, 2019
2. Adobe Spark
Adobe Spark gives students the chance to create visually appealing videos, pages or posts of their own using Adobe’s templates and easy-to-use tool. If the important part is the student’s voice (rather than the product itself), it can be a great way for students to quickly make an impressive product in which they express themself.
A3: #edtech allows students new ways to show their passions and learning. Tools like #adobespark and @Flipgrid give them a multitude of ways to show their creativity. Also #GoogleSlides and info graphs are awesome. #eduducttape #ditchbook
— Heather Shaw 👻 (@msshaw27) October 18, 2019
3. PearDeck
PearDeck is a highly flexible tool that is great for lesson delivery, formative assessment and student feedback. In the podcast episode, Mike talked about the types of questions that he asks his students to hear their voice about how his instructional design is or is not supporting their learning… and what he can do differently. Check out the educator guide, which Mike co-wrote, here.
A3: I love using @PearDeck for hearing student voice. Whether it be a question to gauge prior knowledge at the beginning of a lesson or feedback on instruction at the end of a unit. The key to student voice is action by student or teacher based on voice.#EduDuctTape
— Mike Mohammad (@Mo_physics) October 10, 2019
4. Google Forms
Google offers an easy way to develop a survey, assessment or form with Google Forms. They are easy to create and, as Craig points out below, can be anonymous, allowing students to respond freely. They can also ask the students for their name and/or email address if the teacher prefers to be able to follow up with the students.
A3: I love using @PearDeck to hear from students because they have confidence in knowing that it is anonymous to the class. If I want anonymous feedback for me, I’ll use Google Forms. Like at the end of the year I would let Ss grade me as a teacher #EduDuctTape https://t.co/STmU8FRsKb
— Craig Klement (@craigklement) October 10, 2019
5. Padlet
Padlet is a great tool for organizing, curating, collaborating or communicating. For these reasons, it’s also a great tool for empowering student voice!
A3- @Flipgrid @Padlet and @PearDeck continue to impress me in regards to amplifying student voice both inside the classroom and out. However, I had one student like to write notes, ?’s or comments on post-it’s. It kinda brought me back to the days of #passingnotes #EduDuctTape
— Matt Meyer (@54Mr_Meyer) October 10, 2019
6. Nearpod
Nearpod, like Pear Deck above, is a great tool for delivering lessons, gathering feedback and performing live formative assessments. It also has some features that Pear Deck does not, including the Collaborate Board. Collaborate Boards are a lot like Padlet walls (above), but have the added benefit of being nested inside of a Nearpod lesson or activity.
A3: One of my favorite tools that allows me to give each student a voice is the @Nearpod Collaborate Board!!! #EduDuctTape
— ✨Angela Greene✨ (@AngelaGreene12) October 10, 2019
7. Seesaw
At its core, Seesaw is a digital portfolio tool, but it actually provides opportunity for so much more! Their website says: “student portfolios, formative insights and family communication all in one place,” but even that doesn’t completely capture all that is possible with this tool. Regardless, since students are able to express themselves and communicate with teachers & parents through this tool, it certainly can empower student voice.
A3: My three favorite tools I use for student voice are @nearpod, @Flipgrid, and @Seesaw. The three of those tools provide an endless amount of ways for students to share their learning! #EduDuctTape
— Jana Linehan (@jana_linehan) October 10, 2019
8. WeVideo
If you’re looking for a video creation tool for students to use on Chromebooks, WeVideo is almost certainly the option that you’ll end up selecting. And, since students can create just about anything with WeVideo, it’s a great place for them to share their voice, too!
A3: Like Mike, I think @Flipgrid is an excellent tool! Moreover, I love the pixel filter for students who have great things to say, but are camera shy!
Another great tool is using @wevideo to let students create video blogs or podcasts to share out on a topic! #EduDuctTape
— 𝙳𝚊𝚗 𝚂𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚣𝚎𝚕 (@mr_stitzel) October 10, 2019
9. BookCreator
BookCreator offers a fantastically easy-to-use eBook creation tool. What a great way for students to organize and communicate their thoughts!
A3: There are so many optys for student voice. @Flipgrid @BookCreatorApp @DiscoveryEd @DoInkTweets are just a few that I love. They integrate nicely w/one another most of the time. I love sharing diff tools & allowing Ss to choose the tool that works best for them #EduDuctTape
— Pam Inabinett (@pnabbie) October 10, 2019
10. DoInk
If your students use iPads, DoInk is a great video-creation (and expression!) tool!
Pam also mentions Discovery Education – it’s a great tool as well!
A3: There are so many optys for student voice. @Flipgrid @BookCreatorApp @DiscoveryEd @DoInkTweets are just a few that I love. They integrate nicely w/one another most of the time. I love sharing diff tools & allowing Ss to choose the tool that works best for them #EduDuctTape
— Pam Inabinett (@pnabbie) October 10, 2019
11. Synth
Synth is a relatively new tool that, as their website says, enables the creation of “Podcasts in bytes.” What they are implying by that phrase is that you can record and share short (bytes) segments of audio (podcast). The maximum length is 256 seconds. It offers a great way for anyone to start sharing their voice and dipping their toes in the water of podcasting, but can also be used for students communicating with their teachers, peers or family. One great feature about Synth is the “walled garden” for students under the age of 16 – their “podcasts” can only be found or listened to by their teachers, parents or people that they share with directly (i.e., classmates).
A3. So many tools! It's more about how you use them, what you ask, if you listen and how you react. Done right, @flipgrid @gosynth @PearDeck @nearpod and #GoogleForms are some of my faves for this. There are plenty more though! #EduDuctTape
— Jake Miller (@JakeMillerTech) October 10, 2019
12. Screencastify
Screencastify is one of a handful of great screencasting tools that work on Chromebooks and other computers. While I recommend Screencastify, other teachers also love Loom, Screencast-o-matic and Nimbus Capture. Any of them could be used to empower student voice.
A3: For S voice I like @Flipgrid, google suite apps @Screencastify and @BookCreatorApp and @padlet. Sometimes S use these as visuals to explain using. A drawing is using their voice in a diff way. #EduDuctTape
— Tama Trotti, Ed.S. (@tamatrotti) October 10, 2019
13. YouTube Channels
One way to organize and curate a lot of video content is student YouTube Channels. If your students have gSuite (Google) for Education accounts they likely already have access to creating a YouTube account. While YouTube can present a slippery slope, users do have the ability to set their videos as “unlisted” so that they can’t be found by anyone outside of their intended audience (i.e., teacher, parent, etc.). Also, if we hope to help our students become good digital citizens in the “real world” it makes sense to expose them to these tools and teach them how to use them appropriately.
A3: Curated student YouTube channels. Students can easily record videos on iPads, edit in iMovie and upload to, in my case, my YouTube channel. It’s easy to set viewing to private, unlisted, only with link etc…and then you can share with parents and others. #EduDuctTape
— Stacy Ford (@StacyFord77) October 10, 2019
14. Google Slides
Need a simple tool for hearing your students’ voice? In #2 up above, Heather mentions Google Slides. There certainly is no reason that you can’t use familiar tools like Slides or Docs to empower student voice.
15. Analog!
You can certainly do it without technology! Here are a few “unplugged” options.
A3: It's less about technology and more about creating a vision together. As easy as asking what they want their class to look like, sound like, and feel like (sticky notes on charts), then creating a vision based on those answers. A great way to start with voice! #EduDuctTape https://t.co/nYzRyzt9uR
— ᑭᗩᗰ ᕼᑌᗷᒪᗴᖇ (@specialtechie) October 10, 2019
A3- I’m a huge fan of using the 4 corners teaching strategy from @facinghistory to get everyone in the discussion- gets students up, engaged and sharing their take on topics from the simple to the controversial #EduDuctTape
— Brian Insley (@MrInsleyOFHS) October 10, 2019