Playing with Planboard: Access, Analyze, Create, Reflect, Take Action
Access
Planboard is a program developed mainly for the use of teachers. This program is accessible to teachers through their online website, as well as through the use of an iPad app. This program needs Internet access in order to use it, whether it be on their website or through the app. Planboard seems to be very well organized in terms of its privacy standards. All of one’s information is confidential, but as a user, one has the option to share their lessons with other teachers using the program.
Analyze
Planboard is designed specifically for teachers and educators, however the company has other linked programs that are accessible for students as well. As I was tinkering with this program, I was curious as to whether or not I could see myself choosing to use this program daily as an educator. I was interested to see whether the program would aid to the needs of educators all over the world, or if it was designed specifically for one particular country.
If I were to use this program, it would be used daily to organize my lesson plans. I would also consider incorporating their other programs like Markboard. It is a good resource in order to maintain all files in one spot, and is accessible from multiple technologies. Personally, I’m not too sure if I would choose to share my lessons online, but if I were to do this, my digital presences would be added. I would now have my personal lessons and name on this website for access by other educators.
Create
This program allows educators to store their schedules, documents, and assessments all in one space. As a user of Planboard, one can create a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule to plan their lessons and units. In each “class” that is included in a schedule, one can write their lesson plans in that category. For example, I can create my daily schedule for the week, and each day will be split up into the activities I am doing that day. On Monday, I could be teaching math and language for the first two blocks. Each subject would have its own block, where I can write my lesson plans or give a brief description of what will take place in that block. I can also use Markboard and connect it to my classes (math and language). In Markboard I can have students enroll into the class, and they can submit their assignments through this program, so that I could mark them online.
Personally, I found this program to be quite easy to navigate and operate. Of course, it took a little tinkering before I felt comfortable using it, but that is normal with any new program that is being explored. One thing that I was not a fan of was the option to add a standard. I loved the idea that you can just attach your curriculum connection into your lesson on the website, but when I attempted to do so, it wasn’t what I expected. It is very broad, and there are only some Ontario curriculum standards. There may be a way to create new standards, but I couldn’t figure that part out! That would be a great thing to have, because than as an educator, one can just attach the curriculum standard they are meeting in their lesson.
Take Action
This program is beneficial because it can be used for personal and professional uses. As an educator, one can use the program to organize their day-to-day schedule and stay on top of their lesson planning and marking. If one decides to make their lessons public, it turns more into a professional use. It is also very beneficial because if a teacher were to be absent, they could provide access to their Planboard for the supply teacher.
Personally, I really do enjoy this program and what it has to offer. I have created an account in order to tinker with the program, but I will definitely keep my account and further my understanding of the program. At this point in my life, I do not need it, as I am not yet an educator. However, I am definitely going to put it in my back pocket and try and use it in the future when it is relevant to my career.
For those of you who need a visual, this is what Planboard looks like! I simply wrote in a couple words for what we are doing in that lesson, but you can go into detail and create lesson plans or important lesson plans as well!
If you're interested in testing out Planboard or Markboard, check out their website!
Access
Planboard is a program developed mainly for the use of teachers. This program is accessible to teachers through their online website, as well as through the use of an iPad app. This program needs Internet access in order to use it, whether it be on their website or through the app. Planboard seems to be very well organized in terms of its privacy standards. All of one’s information is confidential, but as a user, one has the option to share their lessons with other teachers using the program.
Analyze
Planboard is designed specifically for teachers and educators, however the company has other linked programs that are accessible for students as well. As I was tinkering with this program, I was curious as to whether or not I could see myself choosing to use this program daily as an educator. I was interested to see whether the program would aid to the needs of educators all over the world, or if it was designed specifically for one particular country.
If I were to use this program, it would be used daily to organize my lesson plans. I would also consider incorporating their other programs like Markboard. It is a good resource in order to maintain all files in one spot, and is accessible from multiple technologies. Personally, I’m not too sure if I would choose to share my lessons online, but if I were to do this, my digital presences would be added. I would now have my personal lessons and name on this website for access by other educators.
Create
This program allows educators to store their schedules, documents, and assessments all in one space. As a user of Planboard, one can create a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule to plan their lessons and units. In each “class” that is included in a schedule, one can write their lesson plans in that category. For example, I can create my daily schedule for the week, and each day will be split up into the activities I am doing that day. On Monday, I could be teaching math and language for the first two blocks. Each subject would have its own block, where I can write my lesson plans or give a brief description of what will take place in that block. I can also use Markboard and connect it to my classes (math and language). In Markboard I can have students enroll into the class, and they can submit their assignments through this program, so that I could mark them online.
Personally, I found this program to be quite easy to navigate and operate. Of course, it took a little tinkering before I felt comfortable using it, but that is normal with any new program that is being explored. One thing that I was not a fan of was the option to add a standard. I loved the idea that you can just attach your curriculum connection into your lesson on the website, but when I attempted to do so, it wasn’t what I expected. It is very broad, and there are only some Ontario curriculum standards. There may be a way to create new standards, but I couldn’t figure that part out! That would be a great thing to have, because than as an educator, one can just attach the curriculum standard they are meeting in their lesson.
Take Action
This program is beneficial because it can be used for personal and professional uses. As an educator, one can use the program to organize their day-to-day schedule and stay on top of their lesson planning and marking. If one decides to make their lessons public, it turns more into a professional use. It is also very beneficial because if a teacher were to be absent, they could provide access to their Planboard for the supply teacher.
Personally, I really do enjoy this program and what it has to offer. I have created an account in order to tinker with the program, but I will definitely keep my account and further my understanding of the program. At this point in my life, I do not need it, as I am not yet an educator. However, I am definitely going to put it in my back pocket and try and use it in the future when it is relevant to my career.
For those of you who need a visual, this is what Planboard looks like! I simply wrote in a couple words for what we are doing in that lesson, but you can go into detail and create lesson plans or important lesson plans as well!
If you're interested in testing out Planboard or Markboard, check out their website!