To help foster student ownership of their learning, I explored a tool called Explain Everything. This is an awesome tool that can be used in a variety of ways. You can start with a blank slate and use it like a whiteboard. You can also select a template and use a variety of media to create your learning page or notes.
I decided to start with a template to see how it worked. There are several to choose from and I decided to try one that I could use myself during meetings.
After selecting the template, I played around with zooming in and out, typing, and writing with my finger. It took me a few tries to figure out how it worked best. If you zoom incorrectly, your writing doesn't stay where you want it!
I loved this template and may use it for my notes. It's pretty easy to add different types of notes, erase, and move them around for organizational purposes. When I was done, I had a sheet that I could zoom in and out of at will. It reminded me of Thing Link and how it zooms in and out of areas on the canvas.
I could see this tool being very useful during lectures and research for students who have trouble organizing. It could also be a great tool for groups who work together as it's easy to add collaborators to your page. I also thought about trying this out for a lab or project. I could have the steps listed out for kids to follow, and they could take notes as they go along, making sticky notes of questions or ah-has as they work through the lab. It would all be in one spot, they wouldn't lose it, and they could easily share it. It would help facilitate their learning while helping them stay engaged and learn how to organize their thinking. What a great way to take control of your own learning!
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