SeeSaw is a digital portfolio tool that is finding wide adoption in our elementary classrooms.
There are some best practices that I wanted to share about this tool:
1:1 Devices
| Make sure that your class is set for a 1:1 device environment and NOT a 'Shared' environment. This should be done when the class is created. (IF you need to switch this, it will force your students to log out/log back in) |  |
| While you are in the Settings, you will need to decide whether or not you want students to be able to see each others' work. This will be important, depending on whether or not your students will be in a collaborative environment. Please check the other settings to see that they are where you want them to be. |  |
Logging in:
In general, it is best practice for students to log into SeeSaw using their school Google account. This allows students to very quickly switch between their different classes. Students will remain logged in as long as they don't close out of SeeSaw. This is preferred for grades 3-4.When a student is primarily in a single classroom OR if little hands make logging in very tedious, then signing in with a QR code would be more appropriate. This is preferred for grades K-2.
IF a student is logged in via QR code in one class and Google for another class, then they are treated as two different students. Parents would then also need to connect twice then, too. (If we had the purchased version of SeeSaw, then these could be merged together.)
Parent Connections:
Parents can view their student's portfolio with the family SeeSaw App. It is free on the Apple or Android stores for either smartphone or tablets.
Please either you or your students post at least one item to their journal before connecting any your parents. When parents first connecting, they should be able to see something for student work. As a teacher, you may share a post to all students as an Announcement, but it is much more meaningful if it is from their child.
It will be important to print out the parent invitation and send home with the students. If a student has several posts without a parent connection, then please invite again. As the teacher, you should be routinely providing constructive feedback for your students on their posts. They enjoy having their audience see their work: fellow students, teachers, and parents.
If you are just getting started, there are several model teachers that would be happy to show how they have been using this tool.
Pictures and Video:
Since this is a portfolio, it will provide a brief snapshot of the learning going on in the classroom. In general, it is best to take pictures and video on the iPads with the Camera or Clips apps and then upload them to SeeSaw. You can then select the best of your library. You may also take pictures directly from SeeSaw, but you may have troubles using those resources in other places.I appreciate your feedback. Let me know if there are more details that you would add to this list.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks
