Since I work at a Microsoft showcase school, tech is imbedded in all teachers. We consistently hunt down new apps and tech tools to push students to challenge themselves. Most schools that utilize tech would be familiar with tools such as Padlet, Coggle, Mindmeister, Miro, and more.
However, there is one tool that towers above the rest in its versatility and ease of use.
Wakelet
Wakelet’s tagline of ‘save, organize and share content’ may seem basic. There functions it executes are simple and to the point. The trick that makes Wakelet stand out is the numerous ways to make use of this tech tool to leverage student contribution in the classroom.
Using Wakelet as an educator
As a teacher, you need to start a ‘collection’. Type in a topic, describe the assignment for the students and add a cool gif or image to pique their interest. I used Wakelet at the beginning of the year to determine student’s expectations of our second year of virtual schooling. It allowed me to get an understanding of the challenges I may face and gave me an idea of the tactics I could use to move my units forward.
I also like using this tool for peer review in my classroom. I ask students to write down their opinions or reflections on Wakelet and then we examine the inputs one by one to provide constructive feedback.
I find that students love to collaborate on Wakelet as they can also add their own fun touches into their responses. It is easy to use and does not need any username or password to contribute to a collection. For this reason, I can trust that my third graders will be able to log in seamlessly and carry out their work with ease.
Wakelet for teachers
I find myself storing material under personal collections that may be of purpose to me during my unit of inquiry. For example, I set up collections of quizzes for fast finishers in various subjects so that I can share the link with my classroom and let them pick whichever one interests them the most.
I also collect e-newspaper articles related to the ongoing unit, images to provoke inquiry, and tidbits that could come in handy to answer student questions.
I find that designing a ‘Wonderwall’ through Wakelet is an excellent option as students can write down their inquiry questions and add or delete answers over time. Also, unlike Padlet, there is no limit to the number of Wakelet collections you can make, so a Wakelet you create can remain in your collection for years as a reference point.
The Wakelet Community
A considerable advantage of Wakelet is its community setup. You could join as a community member and move on to becoming a Community Leader or Ambassador. I just recently received my badge for becoming a Community Leader and can vouch for their support team. As a leader, I share and promote Wakelet as often as I can.
You can incorporate a Wakelet Community Leader overlay to your social media pictures so that people can approach you with queries about how to use Wakelet. For example, I had someone on Twitter ask me about how to use Wakelet for student portfolios. I immediately reached out to Wakelet’s support team, and they sent back a plethora of links with blogs, how-to’s, instructions, and more. I was delighted to aid someone and have speedy assistance from a very proactive support team!
Using Wakelet to curate my published articles
Since education websites and e-magazines often publish my articles, I like to collate my work through Wakelet, much like a resume. Then, when I pitch to a new publication, I often send the Wakelet link of my articles so that editors can get a feel of my writing style and perspective.
Wakelet has won me over with its versatility. I can see myself using this tech tool for a long time to come, and students never tire of using it either. If you need any assistance with using Wakelet, feel free to contact me on reviewmirrorblog@gmail.com , and I’ll be more than happy to help you out!
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