Keeping it Real and Staying Connected in the Era of Distance Learning
In my last blog post I talked about using thinking routines during distance learning and shared several resources and ideas from others. One of those ideas /resources was the use of Loom to create explanatory videos that accompany a lesson in which we not only give directions but also have the opportunity to connect with students and share our thinking. In this guest blog post, third grade teacher Erik Lindemann explains how and why he uses Loom, shares an example of one of his Loom lessons, and gives some tips for getting started.
Happy Reading,
Ron
As we find ourselves settled in to our little islands, Loom is a helpful tool for building new bridges to our learners. It's a much-needed way to humanize a lesson format and bring some energy and humor into this realm. It's also really easy to use, which is important to teachers scrambling to find what works for them.
Because I can model the thinking, the video helps students own the thinking process. With students needing to take on a bigger role in their own learning, this is essential.
Our school uses Schoology as the hub for student access and we design and post lessons. Integrating a Loom video tour to begin the learning experience helps me share quite a bit more joy and humor. The thinking remains up-front and feels more like we are in the classroom together. Because I can model the thinking, the video helps students own the thinking process. With students needing to take on a bigger role in their own learning, this is essential.
Here is my first video (see below) with the first lesson I designed around a third grade language arts lesson. I did make some changes to the text of the lesson before I published it to my students, but I didn't edit the video. This was done in one take, which is also like how things go when we are in the classroom. I wanted the result to be more human than perfect. My kids know me and know how I talk and teach. I wanted to capture that essence or realness and familiarity for them.
Some Tips on Getting Started with Loom.
On the Loom website, there is an option to link the application to Chrome and a Loom button becomes part of the browser menu banner. To start recording, click the icon and your screen, your voice, and even your face (in a small bubble in the corner) is now a part of the lesson. For the viewers, it is not too different from what my son streams on YouTube Kids for learning loads of Minecraft tricks, such as creating zombie pig men. Once the video is done you can edit and create an external link to the video for streaming. This prevents us from overloading our school network and student computers.