Showbie

Here's how I set it up:

1) Go to showbie.com (click on the icon in the top corner).

2) Set up a free account.

3) Create classes (I tried this one with one grade level in just one unit - don't go crazy until you know it's a tried and true tool).

4) Create an assignment with an end date. I assessed my students once a month to show progress, so I set the date to the end of each month.

5) Click the + button to add comments, files, and audio/video for students and add it to the "shared folder". That will automatically push out all the materials to each student.

6) Print out a list of the Showbie-generated class codes to send home to students. They will need to set up a free account (no email needed - and if they are in google it will link directly to that!). They can use any video from a camera roll through the website.

7) Download the app for easy access anywhere.

8) Remember not to stay up ALL night posting to students!

* When using a website or communication tool like this, it's helpful to discuss online etiquette with students. Set high standards for learning- based communication only, not chat about the weekend or a new crush.

Let me begin to tell about Showbie by first telling you why I bothered to try it. While teaching recorders to third graders, I found that my regular assessments were horribly inaccurate. Yes, I had a nice rubric and we had done formative assessment along the way and all, but I assessed kids by having them play in front of class or just in front of me. As you know, performance anxiety is a very real issue, especially at that age when kids are starting to become self aware. Many students did fine and passed their "karate" belts just fine, but there would always be one or two kids that would be in tears upset about their assessment. It's not fair to base a grade on ONE performance on ONE DAY in their life. I needed to find a way to make students comfortable enough to play their best for me, and base my grades off of that. A blended classroom is what I needed! So, I set up an account on Showbie and assigned a song with an end date. I posted videos of me playing as well as traditional notation PDFs, and fingering charts as well. Not only did students access it, but they posted questions, progress videos, and some went above and beyond learning new, more difficult parts. Did every student use it? No. And not every child needed to. Many were fine playing in class. But for students with anxiety or those gifted students that needed extra work, it was a great place to meet. I ended up spending many evenings answering their questions and giving immediate feedback that was specific to just that student. Many students played along with my posted videos when they recorded their playing. The results were amazing! Not only do I feel like I know my students' abilities better, but the communication lines were opened and the walls of my classroom broken apart to make learning accessible at all times. There were no tears during recorders this year. And my assessments are truly the students' best, even if it means they're in their pajamas on their computer at home!

DISCLAIMER: Showbie is not a way for students to chat with each other, just communicating with the teacher. You have access to everything they post, and there is no "delete" button once you've posted.

Click the icon to get more info!

Student profile Here is a dialogue that one student and I had. She only had access to my materials in the "shared folder" as well as my comments.	Showbie home Note that three classes have been created.	Shared Folder
Class profile I can immediately see the three assignments I've posted as well as how many students have turn them in, if they're on time, and how many attachments have been added.	Student dialogue and attachments	Assessment sent in PJs with toys
Recorder assessment from home