Blog post 15: Using LiveBinders for teaching and learning

 Using LiveBinders for Teaching and Learning

There are many ways teachers can use LiveBinders in and out of their classrooms. LiveBinders seems to be a great organization tool, collaboration tool, and a convenient tool to organize and access pertinent information no matter what subject you teach.

For teachers who teach more than one subject this would be a great tool to organize lesson plans for the different subjects taught. This can come in particularly handy if you need a substitute on short notice. You can simply upload documents that the substitute can show on the projector. It is also relatively simple to add links to content online such as YouTube videos or even educational websites that would help any substitute keep the students learning and engaged in your absence. This tool is helpful whether you teach pre-k or high school biology.

Teachers could also use LiveBinders for group assignments. In my sophomore English, reading, writing and study skills class I would help my students set up LiveBinders to keep their different assignments organized by tabs. They would have one tab for study skills. This tab would include websites to help develop stronger study skills as well as pictures the students find online that help them to create a personal study space. The next tab students could also keep the week’s journal topics up to date so that they could start early if they need more time writing.  The next tab would be their Reading tab. This tab would include sub tabs for character analysis, vocabulary, and chapter summaries.

I think one of the best uses of LiveBinders for my sophomores would be to create a binder named BEST WORKS. This would be a digital best works portfolio. Students would be responsible for uploading their personal best works from the class. I would meet with students once a month to evaluate their selections together and discuss the improvements made as well as any concerns I or the student might have.  This process would help students develop a strong sense of self and help them to identify improvement in their work. The best works portfolio allows students to meet with the teacher for one on one communication.

There are countless ways LiveBinders can be incorporated into your 21^st century learning environment. One great option for educators is to upgrade your account so that you can have Private Binders, as all regular account binders are open to the world.