There are 4 key 1:1 essentials:
- Having a digital “Home base” to create, make available, and receive student assignments and information.
- Managing a 1:1 classroom
- Creating & managing digital assessments
- Setting Goals (to maintain focus and build confidence)
Today: Digital Home Base
Having a “home base” to create, make available, and receive student assignments and information is essential for any 21st century classroom. Teacher websites are the most common format for this, but there are other learning management environments -- teachers are limited only by their purpose, skill base, and creativity.
Some may wonder if having different formats for different classes/teachers is an impediment for learners. If you ask me, students need to develop an ease in navigating a variety of learning platforms. And as it turns out, students will generally adapt to differing online formats much the same way they adapt to different classroom setups, teaching styles, and teacher personalities. It just takes a little time, exploration, and patience.
Additionally, teachers who want to get better at integrating technology must explore the use of many possible technologies until they get one that is the right fit for them. Teachers need to be comfortable in their Home Base and not have it ascribed to them. So having choice is, in my opinion, very important.
A few options:
Classroom websites, which are the most common choice for a classroom Home Base, are popular in this district. Google Sites, probably since it is part of the Google family of apps, seems to be the most-used tool. There are many fine examples here at the middle school (see below), as well as at the high school, which would show why they're a mainstay classroom learning environment. Here are just a few examples from the high school that show the versatility of a website:
- Mr. Comeras utilizes many engaging tools and posts his daily agenda with links (anyone who might be absent can still work from home)
- Mr. Nethers' cool, clean format is easy to follow and maintain. He helps students stay current with their assignments; he also has separate tabs set up for assignment turn in and weekly objectives. He has chosen to maintain a different website for each different preparation as well as for each period (Sociology and World History).
- Mr. Zidron's site is blog style as is Mrs. Dudgeon's. Mrs. Dudgeon uses a separate tab for her classroom notes.
Now for a few here at the middle school, some of which are Google Sites, some not (These teachers will be giving us a virtual tour of their sites at our Staff Meeting on Feb. 24.)
Google Sites
Wix and Weebly Sites
Kristin Dennis
Elementary School
(Wix and Weebly are free, easy-to use website builders: check them out HERE and HERE)
Tutorial Videos
(Wix and Weebly are free, easy-to use website builders: check them out HERE and HERE)
Tutorial Videos
A couple of other non-websites
to consider as a Home Base:
A couple of other non-websites
to consider as a Home Base:
to consider as a Home Base:
Edmodo: it looks like Facebook and is more social in format and use. Students can also turn in assignments and take quizzes. Information and learning guide 
Livebinder: Livebinders is a tool that organizes information and shares via a set of tabs. Livebinders has been around for a while but has recently added a lot of new features that make it more versatile and "Home Base" friendly.
Examples of the old Livebinders Format:
P.E. Resources
Livebinders Classroom Website Pages: New Look
Mrs. GurneyMr.'s Gibson and Irby
In the end, whatever you decide on as a Home Base, what is important is that you have one. Try different things and look at what other teachers have done/ are doing. With some due diligence -- and yes, time invested, you'll end up with a place that will make you and your students feel at "Home."
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