I understand that not everyone loves educational technology the way I do. {clutches pearls} {remembers I do not wear pearls} {makes a Post-it note to buy pearls} {immediately loses Post-it note}

But at some point you may be part of a larger educational body which mandates use of a Learning Management System, a LMS. And if you are reticent to teaching with technology I’d like to suggest some ways you can start using your LMS. 50 ways to be exact.

  1. Post your biography50 Ways to Start Using Your LMS
  2. Post your office hours
  3. Post your contact information
  4. Post your syllabus
  5. Post answers to Frequently Asked Questions
  6. Post/Store your course files
  7. Post project directions
  8. Post project rubrics
  9. Post project exemplar photos
  10. Post dates of importance (Open House, conferences, due dates, end of term, field trips, etc)
  11. Post your class notes
  12. Post Study Guides
  13. Post Announcements
  14. Use randomizer for classroom activities
  15. Embed YouTube/Khan Academy instructional video
  16. Embed a slideshow
  17. Embed Google Docs/O365 documents
  18. Import content for students to view
  19. Search the repository for shared content to import
  20. Copy work from a clever colleague and repurpose for your students
  21. Use planning time to work with those clever colleagues on building new content for everyone on the team
  22. Work from home on inclement weather days
  23. Allow students access to work on your classwork at anytime, from anywhere
  24. Message students/families
  25. Create a course for parents
  26. Auto-grade something
  27. Use an open-ended/rubric grader
  28. Give an assessment (and experiment with the settings)
  29. Moderate a discussion/FlipGrid/VoiceThread
  30. Share grades
  31. Share media to discuss the next day/week in class
  32. Share review media
  33. Share authoritative text in an online format
  34. Collect daily work
  35. Collect Homework
  36. Collect Project submissions (files or photos/videos of student with project)
  37. Collect artifacts for portfolio(s)
  38. Gate (use Prerequisites/Requirements) to allow students to move through content as they master prior content
  39. Video conference
  40. Group students to collaboratively work on a Google Doc
  41. Add one item for each unit of study (study guide, list of important vocabulary, project guidelines, etc)
  42. Set-up peer reviews of student submissions
  43. Create mini-lesson videos on each unit/topic for the areas with greatest misconceptions
  44. Run reports on the data you collect on student performance
  45. Use your mobile device to check on the class, from anywhere, anytime
  46. Create learning paths, personalized by student choices
  47. Does the LMS integrate with any other softwares you use in class?
  48. Gamify your class with certificates, accomplishments, or badges
  49. Allow student to create content to teach their peers and post it to the class
  50. Whatever you try, do it with a spirit of adventure and transparency and your students and families will likely be willing to try it and give you caring feedback.