Hello everyone!  I am Jim Bard and I work with pre-service teachers participating in student teaching.  Sharing ideas and experiences with each other is a crucial part of the curriculum, but this can be difficult since all of the students are spread out across the state.  I use Lucidspark as a place for students to easily share ideas with each other even though they aren’t physically together.  I like how students can share with stickies, add images, add links, and ask their classmates for advice.  Here is an example from one of my cohorts.

I had the privilege of joining a classroom discussion at Brigham Young University focused on logical fallacies. The session began with an engaging introduction to critical thinking and the common logical fallacies we often use when making decisions or drawing conclusions. Afterward, the class split into groups, each tasked with evaluating a scenario and identifying the logical fallacy it represented.

It was inspiring to see the students' enthusiasm as they used tools like emojis, voting features, sticky notes, and more to participate actively. These tools allowed them to engage meaningfully without feeling pressured to speak aloud, fostering inclusivity. Some students shared their insights verbally, while others contributed quietly yet effectively.

The instructor later shared that this lecture was overwhelmingly rated as the students' favorite of the semester! They appreciated how intuitive and engaging the tools were, making critical thinking not just accessible but also fun.