Through selecting relevant digital tools and becoming trained in them for effective implementation, afterschool educator and leaders could turn their online offerings into interactive and engaging environments. They could best instruct young people and adults online by upgrading their digital toolboxes through various platforms and asynchronous, self-paced trainings and certifications.
Afterschool educators and leaders need to find the right mix of digital tools to facilitate digital learning effectively. Many digital tool websites offer free training for their products, including recognition through certification. Though some digital tools do not offer certification, there are many digital tool certifications which offer free training and can be adapted into various teaching styles. The five specific selections presented in this article represent a wide variety of digital tool types, including: EdPuzzle, Kahoot, Nearpod, Flipgrid, and the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) Afterschool Tech Toolkit. Descriptions of these digital tools are found below, with links to the trainings found in the references.
For those who would like to incorporate more videos into their offerings, EdPuzzle and Flipgrid are two digital tools which fall into this category. Edpuzzle is a website which allows users to select videos, and embed questions within the videos. When a video is assigned to a participant, they must answer the questions to watch the entire video. Facilitators can see the answers to the video questions and see how long participants spend watching the video. Edpuzzle offers a certification training program, starting with level one beginner certification. There are also a wide variety of asynchronous professional development options available, with badges offered upon completion.
Flipgrid is another video-based website where participants can respond to a facilitator and other participants with short video messages. This is effective for requiring speaking and listening components, especially while virtual. Outside instructional videos created by the facilitator or others can also be brought into the Flipgrid. Flipgrid offers a certification training program, starting with level one, and progressing to level two, with badges provided upon completion.
Nearpod is a great tool for those wishing to provide participants with presentations, both synchronously and asynchronously. Facilitators can create interactive presentations using features such as polling, drawings, integrating websites, and more. They can go through the presentations with participants and provide them with a link to participate live with the slides. Another option is for facilitators to post the presentation on a learning site such as Google Classroom, where participants can complete the presentation tasks asynchronously. Nearpod has a standard certification course and provides training for a Nearpod Distance Learning Expert badge.
Kahoot! is an interactive, game based digital tool in which participants can play against each other in a team or head-to-head format. Facilitators can create their own Kahoot! or use a previously made Kahoot! from a public site. They can also update or modify an existing Kahoot! to make them more relevant. Participants can play Kahoot! from their device, phone, or tablet, and do not need to be in the same vicinity as each other to play. Kahoot! offers a certification course, which starts at the bronze level. To advance to the silver and gold levels of certification, participants watch instructional videos and then play a Kahoot! game to earn a passing score.
For facilitators seeking excellent free resources and training, the NAA Afterschool Tech Toolkit offers a variety of module-based trainings, from the beginning levels of getting started with technology to more impactful topics such as addressing equity through digital learning. These modules are self-paced, asynchronous, and can be taken in any order.
From first-hand experience having worked through the Afterschool Tech Toolkit modules, afterschool professionals will be prepared to impact all virtual and remote learners to the highest level possible upon completion.
Written by Scott Marakovits, Ed.D., Curriculum Department, Salem County (New Jersey) Vocational & Technical Schools. NAA Executive member.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
Stevens, J.B. (2020, May 15). Looking back to think forward: Reflecting on 9 weeks of remote learning in order to plan for the future.
