Gifted students use app to create virtual museum

Daughtry Elementary School gifted teacher Sharon Turner said her students are using SeeSaw, an app accessible from tablets and computers.

"SeeSaw works like many social media apps," Turner wrote in an email. "Parents, students and teachers can like posts and make comments. Students enjoy reading the comments."

Turner set up a free SeeSaw account, created a class and added her students. Younger students log on to the app by scanning a matrix barcode or typing in a text code. Older students create an account using their email address.

When students access the app they see a menu of options. They can add photos, videos, drawings, notes, files or links. After uploading their work, they can explain and reflect by creating voice-overs, annotations, captions, titles and labels, Turner wrote.

When the student's work has been uploaded, Turner receives a notification through email or the app to review the work. She can approve or delete the item. Once approved, the work is added to the student's folder and parents get a notification that it is there.

"Parents only have access to their child's folder. They never see other students' work," Turner wrote. "Teachers are able to choose whether to allow students to see each other's work through the class feed."

Third-grade students used the SeeSaw app to create a virtual habitat museum. Students were assigned different habitats and told to create an interactive exhibit that would teach visitors about the plants and animals from that habitat and how their physical features and adaptations help them survive there.

"Other third-grade classes were invited to come to the museum and visiting teachers gave feedback to each group," Turner wrote.

SeeSaw also allows students to create a digital portfolio to document their learning.

"They may post photos, videos, text, PDFs, drawings and links. They are able to annotate and create voice-overs for their work, allowing them to explain and reflect," Turner wrote. "It allows them, as well as teachers and parents, to see the progress that they have made."

In the Talented And Gifted program, Turner and her fellow educators can track their students' SeeSaw progress from first grade to fifth grade.

"It gives students an authentic audience for their work. Parents are instantly able to view, like and comment on their child's work," Turner said. "Students are also able to comment and give feedback on other students' work."

Teachers are in full control of the app and must approve all work and comments that are added to any student portfolio, Turner wrote.

"There is also an option to create a class blog to showcase what students are learning to an even larger audience," Turner wrote.