Using Classroomscreen In the Classroom

 Using Classroomscreen In The Classroom

    Thanks to the ice storm that came through, my school has spent the past few days conducting classes using our NTI model.  NTI has many challenges, but over the past two years, many online tools have made teaching classes over the internet more manageable.  One tool I have found to be extremely helpful comes from Classroomscreen.com.  While the device is excellent in the traditional classroom setting, it has been a lifesaver for online instruction.

    Classroomscreen is a classroom management tool that provides educators with multiple commonly used widgets on one display.  These widgets support activities conducted in the classroom and help keep students focused on their tasks.  

The widgets found on the site are; a random name generator, group creators, digital dice, sound level monitor, media integration (images, videos, etc.), QR code generator, drawing tools, text boxes, various ideas for voice level expectations, a timer, stopwatch, digital and analog clock, and a calendar.  The best part of these tools is that they are all in the same place and displayed on the same screen.  You no longer have to flip between multiple websites or apps for these tools.  You have the flexibility to put as many different tools onto one screen as you need.  Because I teach older kids, most of my "screens" consist of a text box providing the expectations and directions for the activity, a clock, a calendar, and a timer.  Sometimes I include an image for fun or to support the learning.  Here are a few examples of the screens I have made to display to my students:

    There is a free version of Classroomscreen and a pro version for $30 a year.  Before Covid, I used the free version in my classroom, but I upgraded to the pro account when we began teaching online for long periods.  This version allows me to save my screens, upload custom background images, create online polls, and store more data for group creation.  Being able to keep my screens was what convinced me to upgrade.  I now have a screen designed for each of my classes, and I simply switch back and forth, which has been a time saver.  I am glad that the creators provide a free version to explore that doesn't require an eventual upgrade.  Many of my coworkers continue using the free version in the classroom daily and are satisfied with its options.  I just enjoy being more creative with my displays and saving them for repeated use. 

    During regular in-person instruction, I simply have my screen displayed using my projector.  But, during NTI, I use these screens a little differently.  While conducting online classes, I like to have my screen "shared" during independent work time.  This allows the students to come to the online meeting, and they can read the screen to see what the current expectation is.   This has helped with students arriving late to the meeting and early finishers.  There is always a timer counting down to our next online meeting, so the students know how long they have before they are expected to be participating in direct instruction.  Of course, there are still students the like to announce their arrival by asking, "what are we doing?" but this has cut down on the volume of repeated instructions.  

    

    Classroomscreen is an excellent tool for any educator to try out in their classroom.  I highly recommend giving it a try!