🗑 End of year series, part 2: Digital projects

🎥 50 new Teachflix videos courtesy of ClickView

Have you heard of Teachflix (teachflix.org)? It’s our free collection of classroom and instructional videos — complete with activities you can assign your students.

Good news! 🎉

We just added 50 new free videos to Teachflix through our partner, ClickView.

What is ClickView? ClickView (clickview.net) provides engaging, standards-aligned videos for every subject, topic, and grade. Teachers can sign up for free to get access to videos — along with lesson plans and interactive activities for students.

We just added 50 of ClickView’s most popular videos to the ClickView collection on Teachflix. You can browse the ClickView collection on Teachflix here.

There are videos for elementary, middle, and high school, including:

• Who’s Who in Animal Farm

• Can You Spot Fake News?

• The Dangers of Smoking and Vaping

• Place Value of Decimals

• The Solar System Explained

• Turning Points of the Civil Rights Movement

• What Is AI?

• Learning About Fractions

• … and more!

Check out the whole ClickView collection on Teachflix to find some new videos — as well as free lesson plans and interactives — to get students engaged. And be sure to sign up for ClickView to get all of their videos, lesson plans, and activities — free for teachers!

💻 TECH TIP 💻

🚌 Ditch the Bus, Not the Experience: Norman Rockwell Museum's FREE Virtual Field Trip

We all know the struggle: you want to give your students rich, engaging experiences, but budget constraints, transportation hassles, and time limitations can make traditional field trips a real challenge. That's why the Norman Rockwell Museum's "Imagining Freedom" Virtual Field Trip is a great option for your class.

What's a Virtual Field Trip?

If you're new to the concept, virtual field trips are like bringing the museum to your students. They're immersive, online experiences that use technology to let students explore locations and exhibits without ever leaving their seats. Imagine your students diving into a world-class art museum, interacting with the art, and learning about history and social justice – all through their devices.

Why Virtual Field Trips? 

• Accessibility: No more worrying about bus costs or accessibility issues. Every student gets a front-row seat.

• Flexibility: Fit it into your schedule! Use it for a single class period or spread it out over multiple days.

• Engagement: Interactive galleries and compelling visuals keep students hooked.

• Expanded Horizons: Explore places you might never be able to visit in person.

• Budget-Friendly: This one's FREE for educators!

The Norman Rockwell Museum's "Imagining Freedom" Virtual Field Trip: What's inside?

This isn't just a slideshow; it's a full-blown interactive experience designed for K-12 classrooms. Here’s what you get:

• 24/7 Access to the "Imagining Freedom" Virtual Exhibition: Students explore Rockwell's powerful works, focusing on democracy, human rights, and civic engagement.

• Standards-Aligned Lesson Plans: Ready-to-use PDFs with discussion questions, in-class activities, and contextual information.

• Flexibility: Modular lessons let you pick and choose what fits your curriculum and time.

• Multi-Device Compatibility: Works on computers, mobile devices, smartboards, and even VR headsets.

• Subjects Covered: History/Social Studies, Civics, Visual Arts, and English Language Arts/Humanities.

• Theme: Narrative & Storytelling.

Why take this field trip?

The Norman Rockwell Museum has even been honored with a 2024 Anthem Award for this project, recognizing its innovative and impactful digital experience.

How to get started (it's easy!)

1. Apply for Free Access: Fill out the form on the Norman Rockwell Museum's website.

2. Get Your Unique Link: You'll receive an access link within two business days.

3. Dive In! Use the virtual field trip anytime, as often as you like, throughout the school year.

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to the Norman Rockwell Museum's website and sign up today.

💡 THE BIG IDEA 💡

💡 20 ideas for end-of-semester final projects

🏁 End of year series: Part 2 of 6 🏁

Projects fit so nicely at the end of the school year. Why?

• They’re cumulative. It lets students put all of their learning and newfound knowledge on display.

• It’s a change of pace. It helps them use and demonstrate their learning in different ways.

• They emphasize application. Students apply their skills to a clear goal — a project — instead of just practicing skills in isolation.

So … how do we pull a year’s worth of learning together in one project?

Today’s post — 20 ideas for digital end-of-semester final projects — shares lots and lots of ideas …

2. Create a screencast video

Screencast videos are an alternative to the traditional “talk in front of the class” presentations.

They’re efficient: students can create and view them independently.

They let students avoid the nerves of talking in front of the class and focus on presenting what they know and have learned.

(And if you want to go the “they have to get over their nerves and learn public speaking” route, that may be true, but also consider this. It’s likely NOT in your standards for kids to defeat their fears. And if their fears have an adverse effect on their grade despite being SOLID on their content knowledge, that may not be a fair way to assess.)

🛠 Suggested tools: ScreenPal and Screencastify

4. Connect with a cause

In his book Drive, Dan Pink says there are three main drivers of motivation, according to science. Purpose — doing something bigger than yourself — is one. As you and your students think about these projects, think about how they can be done to benefit others.

• People in your community

• Students at your school

• People in need around the world

• Those seeking information on the Internet

Some internet searching — or discussions with students and others — can reveal a cause. A video call with a representative of the cause or organization could shed new light for students and motivate them.

🛠 Suggested tools: Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Empatico.org

8. Create a digital portfolio

Digital portfolios offer a dynamic and engaging alternative to traditional assessments, allowing students to document their growth, reflect on their work, and proudly display their skills.

For graduating seniors and college students, digital portfolios provide a professional and organized platform to present their work to potential employers, making it easier to assess their abilities.

🛠 Suggested tool: Wakelet (Post: Unlock the power of student portfolios with Wakelet)

18. Record a TED Talk

The TED-Ed Student Talks program provides free, customizable activities for educators working with students ages 6-18 in a classroom, school, extra-curricular setting or youth/educational organization. 

Students don't need to create something new, either. They can develop an existing essay into a short TED-style Talk. They could take a strong essay they've already written and think about how to present those ideas in an engaging and concise oral format.

🛠 Suggested tool: TedEd Student Talks Curriculum

… and more!

That’s just a sampling of four of the digital end-of-year final projects in our list. Check out the whole post for more ideas, more tools, and more resources.

👋 How we can help

There are even more ways I can support you in the important work you do in education:

1. Read one of my six books about meaningful teaching with tech.

2. Take one of our online courses about practical and popular topics in education.

3. Bring me to your school, district or event to speak. I love working with educators!