Chalkup

Free!

Chalkup provides users with a digital classroom. To begin, teacher users must first register with Chalkup and then create a class. When creating a class, teacher users must enter the course name, section number, description, course level, and start/end dates for the class. After creating it, teacher users can add student users to the class by email or sharing the course code with them. Student users will then have to register with Chalkup and input the course code to enroll. Once their course is created, teacher users can begin adding content to their course that includes assignments, discussions, and materials. To create an assignment, teacher users must tap the “Assignments” option, click the type of assignment (e.g., homework, quiz, test, project, paper, or lab), describe the assignment, choose a rubric, enter in the estimated time to complete the assignment, assign it to a class, and enter a due date. When ready, teacher users must tap the “Assign” button, and Chalkup will then load the assignment to the course, and student users who are enrolled in the course will receive a notification. The “Discussion” option lets users create opportunities for class members to engage each other. When creating a discussion, users can design it so it includes text, questions, links, media, polls, or collaborative activities. As users respond to the discussion, teacher users get notifications. When using the “Material” option, teacher users can add text, images, website links, and more for students to engage. Teacher users are also able to create rubrics to grade assignments. Two additional options in Chalkup are the discussion and flashcard options. The “Discussion” option lets users message other users, and the “Flashcard” option lets users create digital flashcards that can include text and images.

Please Note: Chalkup links with Google Drive, so users are able to share and import/export materials between the two websites.

Instructional Ideas

1. When teaching using blended learning techniques, teachers can use Chalkup to create, assign, and grade student work. When doing so, teachers can preview the assignment by explaining their expectations and providing a model, if available. In addition, teachers can also explain the rubric they will use to grade the assignment, which can be posted to the assignment description.
2. As a bell ringer activity, teachers can create a discussion using an opinion-based, open-ended prompt that activates student background knowledge about a topic. Next, students can respond individually. Once all students have responded or time expires, teachers can project the conversation and use it to begin a class discussion.
3. As students read a text, they can record all the challenging and/or unfamiliar words they encountered while reading and record them on separate flashcards. After adding a word, students can then make a guess as to the word’s meaning based on how it is used contextually in the text and record that on the flashcard. After finishing the text, students can review the definitions they included to ensure their accuracy. If inaccurate, students can modify the definitions. In addition, teachers can require students to include an image on their flashcard, which may help students recall the words and their definition at a later point.
4. During a lesson, students can message their teacher instead of raising their hand to ask for help. Students may feel more secure messaging their teacher because it is private and they are able to express themselves in text. Teachers can respond either in text or by visiting with the student.
5. When lecturing, teachers can pause and have students respond to a poll they created using Chalkup. The poll can ask students how well they understand the topic being discussed or their opinion about the topic. Teachers can use this data as a formative assessment.

Screenshots