{"id":3986,"date":"2020-08-06T07:30:36","date_gmt":"2020-08-06T11:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/teachersfirst.com\/blog\/?p=3986"},"modified":"2020-08-05T10:50:10","modified_gmt":"2020-08-05T14:50:10","slug":"tech-tool-of-the-month-nowcomment-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachersfirst.org\/blog\/2020\/08\/tech-tool-of-the-month-nowcomment-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech Tool of the Month: NowComment Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Part 1<\/a> of this blog, we introduced you to NowComment <\/a>and discussed the application of both the SAMR Model and the Triple E Framework to help you integrate NowComment into your instruction. Today\u2019s post offers detailed instructions about how to use this tool and also shares classroom use ideas by subject.<\/p>\n

How to Use NowComment:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

To start using NowComment, click to sign up using your Google account, Facebook, or an email address.<\/p>\n

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When you register, you will be required to share your email, first name, and last name. The site will also prompt you to create a password.<\/p>\n

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From here, you have the option to create a group. You may want to create separate groups for each class. You can also create a Group Collection if you want to have students all comment on the same document or website without creating an account. This is a great option for younger students as well, since they will likely not have access to email to create their own accounts. Even elementary students can click on the URL (shared by the teacher) to collaborate.<\/p>\n

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Once you\u2019re ready to upload, you have many file type options. Click on what you would like to upload.<\/p>\n

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The Text I\u2019ll Write Now button allows you to type whatever you want to share. This is a great way for students to connect, collaborate, and communicate as they create text.<\/p>\n

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NowComment has many neat features. First and foremost, they offer free accounts. While you can share your document with the entire Internet, we encourage educators to keep viewing limited to those with the direct URL. NowComment is also time-efficient since you can tie your comments to specific areas of the document or image, reducing time spent searching. Think of the power of being able to ask and answer questions and have multiple conversations right on a website! This tool is simple to use and offers many features that allow you to moderate the comments, create assignments, and manage large groups collaborating on the same item.<\/p>\n

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Although you\u2019re able to create your own group (as shown above), NowComment also has existing study groups organized around United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. You can simply click to join one of these groups and add to the conversation!<\/p>\n

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Here is an example of students collaborating on a document. When you click on the paragraph, you instantly see the comments on the right side related to that part of the text. Notice that you can choose a 2-Pane or Combined view. You can also view all comments or just summaries.<\/p>\n

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Here is an additional example that shows comments related to a link to a short audiobook.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you would like to share a document with your class that is already provided on the site, simply click Invite. You can invite your entire group or individuals to comment.<\/p>\n

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Another neat feature is the color-coded highlighting of comments. You can use these to indicate when something is important, unclear, a question, and more. Simply click on the highlighting icon and make your choice.<\/p>\n

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If you aren\u2019t sure what you want to share with your students, we suggest that you check out the items on the homepage of NowComment to get your wheels spinning and see the many possibilities for this cool tool!\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Classroom Use Ideas:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>NowComment allows teachers the unique ability to share documents, images, websites, and other files with their students. Teachers can share items related to current units of study, team-building activities, and more for collaboration.<\/p>\n

We would be remiss not to mention that older students (possessing an email account to register) could also share items with peers for collaboration and feedback. Although the classroom use ideas we suggest are ideal for a teacher to share with the class, the same topics could be shared among students.<\/p>\n

Use NowComment to collaborate on…<\/p>\n

Social Studies:<\/p>\n