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ISTE Top 10 - #1 - Seesaw




There were several hot topics at ISTE this year (gamifying PD...global collaboration...coding...micro-credentialing ) but one tool that kept coming up (even before I got to ISTE) was Seesaw. So in all fairness it was on my radar prior to going to ISTE but it just seemed to pop up EVERYWHERE during the conference (which I'm hoping is the universes way of screaming TRY IT).

Seesaw is a student driven digital portfolio website where students can upload pictures of their work, videos, add links, etc. To see an overview of the product CLICK HERE for a short YouTube video.

It reminds me a lot of Easy Blogger Jr. which I had explored a couple of years ago, which at the time was free in the app store. I just checked today and it is now $5.99. Seesaw is FREE (there are some pricing options for more functionality) but I think the basic version is enough for simple classroom use.

I like that it works over multiple platforms (we have tablets in our 6-12 classrooms with the possibility of mini-laptops in grades 3-5 next year...currently they have iPad Airs). I'm not sure I can sell our middle/high school teachers into using Seesaw but I feel like I can get some of our elementary school teachers on board.

I tried with Easy Blogger Jr. years ago but it fizzled a bit...I think primarily because at the time our devices were fairly new and teachers were just trying to get a handle on using them in the classroom. I'm hoping to generate more buzz this year with some teachers who will be willing to try it for the entire year.

I have to say the Seesaw people were super helpful at their booth and their website has a ton of help topic areas with videos. I'm hoping to post updates throughout the year as I slowly recruit users.  
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