Chalk.com – All-In-One Curriculum Management Platform.

Freemium! Chalk.com allows teachers to create, edit, and share lesson plans. To begin, teachers will need to register with the Chalk.com website. After doing so, teachers enter the semester for their class, select or add a subject area, and the website guides them through this process. Next, teachers must choose if they wish to create lessons or assessments. If they choose to create lessons, teachers must first tap the “Insert Class” button on the top left of the screen and add the information for their class (e.g., subject and times/days when the class meets), and the app automatically inserts that…

Review Overview

A. Efficiency - 10
B. Functionality - 7.3
C. Design - 7.8

8.4

Chalk.com: A Tool for Lesson Planning and Grades

Summary : Making Planning Digital and Collaborative!

Chalk.com allows teachers to create, edit, and share lesson plans. To begin, teachers will need to register with the Chalk.com website. After doing so, teachers enter the semester for their class, select or add a subject area, and the website guides them through this process. Next, teachers must choose if they wish to create lessons or assessments. If they choose to create lessons, teachers must first tap the “Insert Class” button on the top left of the screen and add the information for their class (e.g., subject and times/days when the class meets), and the app automatically inserts that block of time into the calendar. (Please note, after creating their first lesson, teachers can create additional lessons by clicking the “Lined” button on the top left of the screen and choosing the “Planboard” option.) After saving the changes, Chalk.com loads a new screen that allows teachers to name their lesson, create and assign it to a specific unit, and then type the lesson’s procedures. In addition, teachers can add standards and upload documents as attachments to their lesson by clicking the corresponding buttons on the bottom of the screen. When finished, teachers can click the “Save” button on the bottom of the screen, so they will be able to access the lesson in the future. They can also click the “Share” button to send a copy of the lesson plan via email or link. If teachers wish to keep a grade book using this website, they will need to click the “Lined” button on the top left of the screen and choose the “Markboard” option. Next, teachers must click the “+” button on the top right of the screen, choose if the assessment is going to be a percentage score, a yes/no question, or a rubric-based evaluation. Once selected, teachers will need to add the type of assessment (e.g., homework, quiz, test, or assignment), and each assessment carries a different weight (e.g., 20% of final grade, 30% of final grade, etc.). After making these selections and choosing if it is or is not a summative assessment, teachers will need to click the “Create Assessment” button. The first time teachers use the “Markboard” feature, they will need to add students. Once students are added, teachers are able to enter the student grades and add comments. Once grades are entered, teachers will have the option to create a PDF of the final grades. After entering grades and remaining in the “Markboard” feature, teachers can click the “Assessments” option on the top of the screen to view data by assessment in the “Card View” option or as a traditional grade book view in the “Table View” option.

Please Note: There are multiple additional options that exceed the scope of this review. We recommend teachers view the “Resource” feature of this website, which is accessible by clicking the “Lined” button on the top left of the screen.

Classroom Applications

  1. Teachers can use this website as their primary lesson planning tool. That way, after having written all their lesson plans into this website, they will be able to view their lessons on the website or in its accompanying app while they teach. In addition, once having taught the lesson, teachers can go back into the lesson and make any revisions or edits based on their teaching of it and then save them. By doing so, teachers will have an updated lesson that they can use.
  2. Teachers can use this website to log and record student grades. Once grades are entered, teachers can view student grades either by assessment or by student. Based on the data, teachers can make adjustments to their grading procedures, the type of assignments they have students complete, and/or address areas of student learning deficit as documented by their grades.
  3. Teachers can collaborate on a lesson using this website. To do so, one teacher can create an outline of a lesson and then share it either by email or a link to other teachers. In response, the other teachers can then add to the lesson. When ready, all the teachers can implement the lesson in their classroom. Afterwards, the teachers can meet and discuss their experience teaching that lesson. At the end of the discussion, teachers can make any revisions to the lessons before reteaching it.
A1. Productivity
A2. Frequency
A3. Guidance
A4. Relevance
A5. Credibility
A6. Differentiation
B1. Multipurpose
B2. Collaboration & Communication
B3. Ability to Save Progress
B4. Modifications
B5. Platform Integration
B6. Security
C1. Navigation
C2. Ease of Use
C3. Customization
C4. Aesthetics
C5. Screen Design
C6. Information Presentation
C7. Media Integration
C8. Free of Distractors

Screenshots

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