Lucidchart 4 Education
Over the past few decades, the development and
implementation of technology has accelerated at an incredible rate. Computers,
automated systems, and mobile apps are now part of nearly every profession and
industry in the developed world. It follows that for the rising generation to
be successful in a technology-heavy work environment, they need to practice
integrating tech applications into their everyday activities, starting in the
classroom.
One tech application you might start seeing in
schools that’s available to students and teachers for free is Lucidchart. An
online diagramming software, Lucidchart can help students develop tech literacy in the
classroom while giving them opportunities to think critically and collaborate
with peers.
About Lucidchart
Using Lucidchart, students can create
timelines, mind maps, floor plans, Venn diagrams, and flowcharts to analyze
plotlines, outline and memorize a book using mind maps, find the greatest
common factor, or visualize the rock cycle. Ways to use Lucidchart are only
limited by the imagination, but to get your creative juices flowing, take a
look at some example lesson plans for grades 4-12.
Because Lucidchart is web-based, it runs on any
internet browser from any computer no matter the operating system. There is no
required download meaning that students can start a project at school then go
home and finish it from their personal computer.
It’s also incredibly easy for students and
teachers to show off their work with presentation mode. They can display an
entire diagram at once using the mouse to scroll through it dynamically, or
divide a diagram into slides for a more focused presentation. They can even
export their presentation to Google Slides and add additional context there. Lucidchart
is innovating the way we can offer visual learning to the classroom.
Collaboration
In addition to working anywhere, Lucidchart
makes it possible for students to work with anyone. Multiple students can edit
a document in real time so that everyone can contribute as groups collaborate
and teachers can pop in and monitor. Whether students are working next to each
other in the classroom or from a distance in their own homes, everyone’s
changes are visible as soon as they are made so nobody’s ideas get overwritten.
Commenting and chat features make it easy for
students to talk about ideas and plans as they diagram together from a distance
or at different times. With @mention notifications they can tag each other to
ask specific questions or practice delegating by giving assignments.
G Suite
integration
For classrooms using G Suite for Education,
Lucidchart comes with an added bonus: a seamless integration with Google Drive.
With a free EDU account, users can choose to automatically sync their diagrams
directly to Google Drive where all of their other documents are stored. Free
add-ons for Docs, Sheets, and Slides make it possible to quickly and easily add
visuals to reports, data sheets, and presentations. Help students say hello to
more visual thinking, writing, and presenting.
Perks for
educators
All educators and students with an EDU email
address are eligible for a free Lucidchart Pro account. This means unlimited
documents and shapes, 1 GB of storage, free integrations with G Suite and
Microsoft Office, presentation mode, and access to other advanced shapes and
features. Schools that are interested in adopting Lucidchart across the board
can implement advanced security and administrative controls with the purchase
of an enterprise account.
To sign up for a free EDU account:
- Navigate to
Lucidchart’s free EDU sign up page.
- Sign up for a
standard free account using your educational email address.
- Click your name in
the top right and navigate to “Account Settings.”
- Click “Get a Free
Educational Upgrade” in the bottom left navigation.
- Receive your
confirmation email, click the link, and you’re all set.
The way incoming generations are interacting in
a classroom is changing rapidly and it’s imperative that we adapt and feed that
desire to learn. If you’ve been looking for ways to change up the way you
interact with your students to help them visualize lesson plans, then
Lucidchart is a perfect place to start.
