It's back-to-school time, and I don't know about you, but this time of year always makes me smile. There is something about being fresh from summer vacation and rejuvenated and energized from summer PD (professional development). One of my goals for this year is to be more intentional and transparent with how my lessons and work with students align with the ISTE standards and the new Transformational Learning Principles from ASCD and ISTE. Since time is a valuable resource, I'll list my favourite ways to use Wakelet in the classroom. I will include how each example aligns with ISTE Standards for Students and Educators.

1. Playlists

This is an example of a playlist for a 6th-grade class learning about digital citizenship through a CommonSense Education Lesson. Digital Drama Unplugged- 6th Grade Lesson. This playlist allows students to work independently while practising digital citizenship skills (Digital Citizenship Week is October 16-22 this year) and modelling using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines. The playlist provides students with choices regarding the tools and supports available within the Wakelet collection for understanding the task and multiple means of expression for students to share what they have learned. Students can read the information on the cards or click on the 3 dots (...) in the upper right corner of the card and have the text read to them through the Immersive Reader app. Students are also given the option to respond in multiple ways, choosing the best way for them: typing, voice commenting through Mote, using Wakelet's embedded video recording tool (available through the education plan), or a district-preferred video editing application. 

ISTE Standards: Students - 1.2a, 1.2b,  Educators - 2.5b, 2.7b

2. Choice Boards

Choice Boards are an excellent way to provide students with "voice and choice" in the classroom. My collection, Author's Craft Assessment Options, is ideal for 6th-grade students; however, you can make a copy and adjust it for your grade level or topic! This collection models the use of UDL guidelines by providing choice in terms of the tools and accessibility support available within Wakelet for understanding the task and multiple means of expressing what the students have learned.

ISTE Standard Alignment: Students - 1.6c   Educators - 2.5a, 2.7a

3. Unit/Lesson Plans

Wakelet is a great place to house your lessons and unit plan ideas! Organizing Wakelet collections for planning is easy using templates: Wakelet Template: Lesson Plan. Depending on what you're teaching, lesson plans can incorporate many ISTE Standards for Students and Educators! 

I created this lesson plan { Pancake Day Lesson } for the Awareness Day “Pancake Day,” known as Shrove Tuesday in the United Kingdom. There is a version of this lesson here, along with several other ideas!  

Each collection within this main collection, Computer Science Unit for 1st Grade, contains materials and plans for one lesson to make it easier for the teacher to access.

ISTE Standard Alignment: Students - 1.6c Educators - 2.5a, 2.7a

4. Curation of Student Resource

Curated collections and resources are great for teaching students through modelling. This Clay Center collection, created by Jacey Rivers,  gives information about clay expectations, storage and clean-up, and basics. To learn more about how she uses Wakelet in the art classroom, watch our Community Week session, Digital Art Portfolios - Reflecting on the Process. The Animal Research collection for 2nd graders allows students to learn how to research and watch as teachers model the use of purposefully curated collections and how to use digital tools collaboratively. 

ISTE Standard Alignment: Students - 1.3a, 1.3c Educators - 2.4.c

5. Staff and Parent Communication

Communication with the learning community and stakeholders is key! Wakelet supports communication with families, staff, and school communities, and playlists can help with that! To save myself and my staff time for professional development, I needed to get creative and offer learning in different ways. I created this playlist to introduce Merge EDU to my staff.

I also shared this collection, Digital Citizenship, with the families of the 1st and 3rd grade classes I teach. With a Wakelet collection, families can use Immersive Reader to read the information on the note cards. In Immersive Reader, families can translate information into their preferred language! Another example of supporting families is a collection of general resources. Swanton School Circus Night was our Title 1 Circus-Themed Academic Night in 2023. Families can access all information about the event activities and other games using one link! If you’d like to get started, Wakelet has a newsletter template that you can use to support communication with parents or staff. You can also check out other templates to help you get started. 

ISTE Standard Alignment:  Educators- 2.2a, 2.4d

Resources
ISTE Standards. (2024). Retrieved from https://iste.org/standards 
The UDL Guidelines. (2024). The UDL Guidelines 
Transformational Learning Principles. (2024.). Retrieved from https://iste.ascd.org/transformational-learning-principles