Tech Tool of the Week: Popplet

This week's featured technology tool is an iPad app called Popplet, a great tool for organizing ideas and thoughts. In Popplet, users can create large text boxes called "popples". Once a popple is added, it is easy to insert text, drawings, or photos. Resize, add, and move popples with simple, touch-friendly gestures. Once you are finished, export your diagram to a JPG or PDF file. A great app for unleashing creativity!

Popplet can fit into almost any aspect of a lesson. Here are some of the ways you could use Popplet in your classroom:

• Brainstorming
• Map concepts
• Create timelines
• Presentations
• Plan projects using diagrams
• Record thoughts: journals, notes, lists
• Assist with remembering new facts and figures

Michael Hsu and Cheryl Teng recently demonstrated a creative application of Popplet in their classrooms: 5th grade students created Popplets in which they drew a face and then surrounded the face with descriptive sentences. The objective of the lesson was to practice writing Chinese poetry while incorporating moral education (concern for others). Check out the photos below!

5th Grader Soong Ming H. works on his Popplet

Hsu Laoshi helps his students with their Popplet project

Sample of a student's work