Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from March 2025. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Learn the basics of using Microsoft Forms to support classroom instruction! Discover how to create forms, add questions, and share them with students and explore ways to use Forms for quizzes, exit tickets, data collection, and more. You'll leave this workshop with practical knowledge and basic skills for using Microsoft Forms to gather feedback and assess learning in your classroom. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Explore the features of Microsoft Forms. 2. Discover a variety of instructional uses for Microsoft Forms. 3. Learn to create a basic form. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): differentiation (84), Formative Assessment (74), Microsoft (80), professional development (385)

Discover a collection of educational materials about ancient Mesopotamian Civilizations and the cultures that flourished between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. From interactive timelines that trace the rise and fall of these empires to high-resolution images of archaeological artifacts, our resources bring the ancient world to life. This collection features primary sources and multimedia presentations on daily life in ancient cities like Ur and Nineveh. Share these resources with your students to aid in understanding the foundational civilizations that laid the groundwork for human progress in law, science, literature, and government.

tag(s): mesopotamia (32)

Looking to add some mystery and excitement to your classroom? Digital escape rooms combine critical thinking, problem-solving, and immersive storytelling into engaging educational experiences. We've curated a collection of free tools and resources that make it easy to both play and create digital escape rooms for any subject area or grade level. Whether you're new to educational escape rooms or a seasoned puzzle master, you'll find everything from ready-to-use templates and step-by-step creation guides to inspiring examples that showcase creative ways to transform your curriculum into thrilling digital adventures.

tag(s): digital escapes (15), game based learning (205), mysteries (23)

A collection of reference materials is an invaluable asset for students at all educational levels. Reference materials are helpful to all students, especially our multilingual learners. These materials serve as foundational tools for research, fact-checking, and expanding knowledge across various disciplines. Digital reference tools have revolutionized access to information, offering features like full-text search, multimedia content, translation, and other accessibility features. By leveraging these diverse reference materials, students can enhance their research skills, verify information accuracy, and develop a deeper understanding of their subjects, ultimately fostering academic success and lifelong learning habits.

tag(s): Research (87)

Educational simulations offer immersive learning experiences that bridge the gap between theory and practice for students across various disciplines. These resources allow students to explore, experiment, and problem-solve in risk-free settings. Science simulations enable virtual lab experiments, while historical simulations transport students to pivotal moments in time, and language simulations create authentic conversational scenarios. By providing immediate feedback and encouraging active learning, simulations help students develop critical thinking skills, improve decision-making abilities, and gain deeper insights into various topics. Simulations offer great differentiation options for students who may need extra support.

tag(s): game based learning (205), simulations (19)

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from February 2025. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.

Want to make learning fun and enjoyable for your students? Try Genially! Start from scratch or use a template to gamify a lesson or unit of study and easily create interactive content that your learners will want to explore. This session will show you how to make interactive images, infographics, and presentations to engage learners of all ages. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Discuss the basic principles of multimedia learning. 2. Explore various ways to use Genially in the classroom. 3. Plan for the instructional use of Genially. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): multimedia (53), presentations (23), professional development (385), student-centered (6)