Student Choice and Voice Champions:
Put Students in the Driver’s Seat!
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 ⬥ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Presented by Melissa Henning
Session Description:
Get ready to flip the script and hand over the learning wheel to your students! Our session choice board will showcase nine incredible tools that amplify student choice and voice in ways that will astound you. You’ll experience these tools firsthand by choosing your own learning path through our session.
Objectives:
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- Explore and evaluate at least 3 digital tools that enable students to demonstrate learning across multiple modalities and formats, allowing them to select methods that align with their strengths and interests.
- Complete at least one project using the tools introduced on the choice board.
- Create an action plan for implementing at least one new tool or approach in their own teaching context that increases opportunities for student agency and authentic expression within the next term.
Download a PDF copy of the slides here.
Resource Materials:
In this Resource Materials section, you will find reference materials, tutorials, and how-to information that will help you review or extend your knowledge from the presentation.
Why Choice Boards work – They differentiate by interest and modality.
Click here for the link to the Google Form Action Plan
Click here for the link to the Padlet.
Resources Shared During the Session
Digital Design and Annotation Tools
- Canva for Education (TeachersFirst Review) – Create graphics, timeline, comics, storyboard, Venn diagram, and more
- Adobe Express (TeachersFirst Review) – Design web pages, videos, comics, presentations, animations, and more
- Genially – Jumanlly (TeachersFirst Review) – Create a game, add hotspots, add text, links, and other information
Audio and Video Tools
- Adobe Podcast (TeachersFirst Review) – Collaborate on podcasts, and transcriptions are automated and editable.
- Avatar Creator (TeachersFirst Review) – Animated avatar video creator
- Padlet (TeachersFirst Review) – Collaborate and respond with video, image, audio, screen recording, and more
Digital Writing and Stories
- Telegra.ph (TeachersFirst Review) – Blog creating tool – no registration or account necessary
- To add photographs to your post (without just showing a URL), you must host them on a third-party image hosting website and paste the direct image link into the editor.
- Workaround steps:
- Upload your image to a trusted image hosting site (such as Postimages).
- Copy the direct image URL (the link ending in .jpg or .png) .
- Paste the URL directly onto your blog.
- Workaround steps:
- To add photographs to your post (without just showing a URL), you must host them on a third-party image hosting website and paste the direct image link into the editor.
- Write Reader (TeachersFirst Review) – Tools for digital writing and storytelling for younger students
- Sway (TeachersFirst Review) – Create interactive reports, travel brochures, newsletters, and personal portfolios
Collections from TeachersFirst
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- Digital Presentation Tools (Special Topic Collection)
- Video Creating and Editing Tools (Special Topic Collection)
- Podcast Creators (Special Topic Collection)
- Project-Based Learning (Special Topic Collection)
- Problem-Based Learning (Special Topic Collection)
- Tools to Create Media (Special Topic Collection)
- Tools to Create Audio Projects (Edge Topic)
- Tools to Create Blogs (Edge Topic)
- Tools for Digital Designs (Edge Topic)
- Tools to Create Timelines (Edge Topic)
- Tools to Create Digital Stories (Edge Topic)
- Tools to Create Presentations (Edge Topic)
In-the-Classroom:
Our In-the-Classroom section is where you will find ideas and examples on how to integrate the tools shared into classroom instruction.
Additional Resources from TeachersFirst
- OK2Ask (free, on-demand recording): Tech Tool Smackdown: Digital Storytelling Edition
- OK2Ask (free, on-demand recording): Learning Bentos: Serving Up Student Choice
- OK2Ask (free, on-demand recording): Adobe Express: Creative Projects for Student-Centered Learning
- OK2Ask (free, on-demand recording): Tech Made EZ with Genially
- Blog Post: Empowering Student Voice with Digital Storytelling
- Blog Post: Tech Tool of the Month: Padlet
- Blog Post: Tech Tool of the Month: Adobe Podcast
- Blog Post: Tech Tool of the Month: Genially
Return to the ISTE 2026 Session Listings Page
https://teachersfirst.org/