Enhancing the Classroom with Shazzle Learning Communities

It is becoming increasingly common for teachers to create websites, and even blogs, to enhance and/or coincide with what is going on in their classroom. Websites are great, but there are limits to their capabilities, and there are limits to who has the knowledge necessary to create one. In steps Shazzle...

Shazzle, amongst many things, is a privatized file sharing and remote storage tool that incorporates live communication capabilities to ultimately create robust communities. While anyone can use Shazzle – from a family wanting to share and store vacation photos to a group of friends who want compile their favorite funny video clips – one of the best possible uses of this new application might just be inside (and outside) the classroom.

Both the “non-techy” and “techy” teacher will find Shazzle to be a unique and useful tool that is easy to use. Within Shazzle, educators can create private, password protected communities that only their students (and parents) can access. Within these communities, information for sharing is stored in folders that are completely customizable. For example, there may be an “assignments” or “handouts” folder. The teacher can upload files (text documents, PowerPoints, photos, videos, etc.) into the program for his/her students to download, view, and print. Website links can also be posted within these folders for sharing.

Besides sharing, organizing, and storing data, Shazzle is also an excellent communication tool. Teachers can engage their students in live chats where everyone can participate, or contact a student one-on-one using Shazzle Chat. As a teacher, imagine being able to hold virtual “office hours” from home to answer questions from students the night before a big test. Besides live communication, Shazzle also boasts a message board and a customizable scrolling shout out bar where announcements, reminders, and links can be posted.

Shazzle is not a website, it is actually not a web-based program at all, and it should not replace an existing website. Within Shazzle, there is a browser / viewer where students can search the web and also view the content (documents, videos, photos, etc.) that is inside the community. Teacher's can set their website or blog as the homepage within the community so students can not only take advantage of what the website or blog has to offer, but also the unique sharing, storage, and communication features within Shazzle.

There are several course management systems, such as Blackboard, that are in the market and being used by educators and entire institutions around the world. Shazzle does not claim to be a full-fledged course management tool, but rather a class enhancement tool. Best of all, Shazzle is completely free, regardless of whether one teacher decides to use it, or an entire school decides to adopt the program.