Home Tags Posts tagged with "Nearpod"
Tag:

Nearpod

Content AreasContent CreationLibrariesOnline Tools and AppsProfessional Learning

Two Tools that Make My Job as a Librarian Easier 

by Andrea Keller
written by Andrea Keller

Like most humans, I spend a large amount of time on various devices using various websites and applications. Although there are a million different websites and applications,  I can count on just one hand the ones that have made my life as a librarian so much easier. When I look at websites and apps, I want to find ones that are useful, make my job easier, and help with community engagement and programming. 

Before I even dive into a website or app that I am going to use in school, I remind myself about my district policies and expectations. I also take a few minutes to really look at the fine print of the terms of service. There are so many great apps out there that our students are using, but they are not always listed for 13 and under. I also look at the data that an app or website takes from the user (be sure to read the fine print!) to be sure I’m protecting my students’ privacy.

1. Nearpod 

Nearpod is one of my favorite websites to use as an instructional tool. Think powerpoint or slides, but make it interactive. The district that I am in provides us with the upgraded version, but even the free version is robust. I can start a Google Slide, and by using Nearpod, I can easily add on other content.  Although the Google Slide add-on is convenient, I tend to create most of my content directly in Nearpod. Nearpod also has a library full of already created lessons and slides that are easily editable once you’ve added them to your own library. Students can access created Nearpods through the Nearpod app on different devices, or log in through the website. Nearpod can also be student-paced, teacher-led, or both, depending on the type of learning. Working in middle school, my students are not always the first to volunteer answers. When using Nearpod, I can invite students to answer open-ended questions, take polls, take short quizzes and so much more. I use the feature to hide students’ names to provide students a safer space. I also appreciate that I can have students log in using Google Single Sign-on, which helps with those names. Nearpod is easily embedded into different Learning Management Systems and offers great data reports to see activity. With any website or app that I use, I want to make sure that my students are engaging with it, and with Nearpod, I’ve hit the jackpot. 

2. Canva

If you haven’t jumped on the Canva bandwagon yet, do so now. Canva is a graphic tool that you can use to create, design, and edit images and videos. I was always in awe of all of the cute and interactive graphics I would see on my different social media platforms. Once I discovered Canva, I realized I could do the same. Canva offers thousands of templates, but also the option to start from scratch and create your own. I use Canva on a daily basis to promote what is happening in the library, provide information to teachers, and create items for my own personal use. I create most of my first line Fridays using Canva and their video options also offer the ability to add collaborators and share across platforms. And there is a free educator account you can sign up for! 

0 comments
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
nearpod
Content AreasGoogle Tips and TricksOnline Tools and Apps

Pre-Made Nearpod Lessons for Elementary Educators

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Nearpod is a popular way to run virtual and in-person lessons. With this tool, teachers can provide quizzes, polls, share videos, create interactive boards, and more. But often it’s a challenge to set up new lessons, even using this convenient tool.

That’s where Nearpod’s Lessons Library comes in handy. Just browse through dozens of pre-made lessons, all easy to find with powerful search and filtering capabilities. Let’s take a look at some pre-made Nearpod lessons across subject areas that will help engage your young learners. 

But First, What Exactly Is Nearpod?

Nearpod is an interactive student engagement platform that lets you turn your existing resources (Google Slides, PowerPoints, and .PDFs) or their pre-made lessons into transformational learning experiences. Once students access these resources, you’ll receive formative assessment data from every student in real-time.

The Silver version of Nearpod is completely free (and, according to the company, always will be.) That offers up to 100MB in storage and the ability to have up to 40 students per session. The Gold plan is just $120/year and it provides for greater storage, more student access, and the use of Immersive Reading for Google Slides.

Engaging Kindergarten Students

These Nearpod lessons are designed specifically for kindergarteners.

Other Elementary Grades

As mentioned above, you can sort Nearpod lessons by subject or grade level. Explore various lessons sorted for all K–5 grades here. 

Even More for Elementary Educators

If these lessons appeal to you, you’re sure to find tons more easy, actionable ideas to boost learning at TCEA’s virtual Elementary Technology Conference, the summer’s hottest event exclusively for PreK-5 educators. Check out the details here.

2 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
pixel art
Content AreasGoogle Tips and Tricks

Pixel Art Activity Help

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

Being a TCEA member means that you are never alone. If you have a question, a problem, a technical difficulty, need advice, need a shoulder to cry on, or just need to vent, 54,000 other dedicated educators are there to listen and help. That happens every day, especially in our online Community.

There was a great discussion and sharing of resources recently in the Community group Technology and Solutions. One member, Robyn Tompkins of Cypress Fairbanks ISD, was looking for a coloring activity for her math students to do in the week before the Thanksgiving holiday. She wanted them to have to solve a problem and, for each solution, the correct answer would tell them what color to use where in the picture. She was able to find lots of printed worksheets for her in-person students to do that would meet that need, but nothing for those students learning remotely. So she posted her question to the group. Read how our TCEA members came to her aid with the fun ideas below.

Ideas Start Flowing

Naomi Harm recommended she use a Google pixels sheet. She also found a YouTube video that showed how to create a paint-by-numbers Google Form and a blog post that explained how to do it. And finally, Naomi (who was on fire with ideas!) offered a paint-by-number pixel art resource.

South Texas ISD science teacher Efren Rodriguez offered this idea: “If you use Google Drive or Google Classroom, you could create a Google Drawings for students to fill out.” Then he created a quick video showing how to make that work.

More Pixel Art Thoughts Emerge

Those ideas sparked Robyn’s mind and she quickly came up with another solution. “I have my drawing as a vector file in Illustrator right now. I just found a video that talks about how to convert the vector image to Google Slides by way of Google Drawings. I’m hoping this will allow me to not have to redraw the image in Google Drawings.”

Librarian Brenda McElyea of Dallas ISD added more to the idea: “They can paint on it in Google Drawings if you upload it as a PDF. You can also do the same in Nearpod.”

Then Kelley Ramsey-Valdez, a librarian from Northwest ISD, joined in: “I turned the Pixel art into a coding activity last year and my kids loved it.” And then she shared a template for the activity from Alice Keeler.

Bringing It Home

Also wanting to share was Kimberly Wassmuth of Round Rock ISD. “i have made a couple of these and have included steps on how to make your own.” You can see her Mystery Picture in Google Sheets template here.

Andy Adams of ESC VII had two more resources to share. The first was a Virtual Sticktogether Stickerboard, which sells for $5, but that is refunded to you when you use the code provided. He then added, “Also, while it’s not in the “paint by number” category, Shapegrams has some great ideas for getting students to do the creating.” Shapegrams is just $35 for one year of access with two new shapegrams added each month to their already full library.

Finally, I had to throw my limited two cents’ worth in by recommending the free, online drawing program Pixelart. Pixelart is both a drawing platform and a social site which is safe for students older than 13 to use.

TCEA members are always willing to help out. And they do it quickly, too. Robyn had a variety of choices to solve her dilemma in less than 48 hours. Why aren’t you a TCEA member?

1 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Source: screenshot of Whiteboard.chat
Good Teaching

Virtual Learning Strategy #1: Classroom Discussion

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

How would you combine one high-effect size instructional strategy with a digital tool? If it’s a question you’ve asked yourself before, you’re not alone. Several thousand of the educators who have completed the TCEA Remote Learning Educator course have asked themselves the same question. Let’s take a moment to see what teachers had to say about one of the strategies studied: classroom discussion.

Before we do that, let’s revisit high-effect size instructional strategies.

Revisiting Strategies That Work

“We have no right to teach in a way that leads to students gaining less than d=0.40 within a year,” says John Hattie. He asked the question, “What works best in education?” Then he answered it in his ground-breaking study on visible learning. In his study, he found a way of synthesizing various influences that are connected to learning outcomes. The most effective strategies have high effect sizes. Hattie found that the average effect size of all the interventions he studied was 0.40.

This is even more true now during virtual learning. “Now,  it is all about finding the effective ones for remote learning,” says Aimee Maganda. Knowing how an evidence-backed strategy works with a digital tool saves time and effort. As one educator put it:

First of all, I would like to say that this has been a fascinating new concept for me. I am very familiar with instructional strategies and digital tools. This was the first time I actually evaluated how effective a strategy is. That is, how effective it is  in conjunction with a digital tool.

Now, I plan to refer to the chart and take a look at some of the more effective teaching methods. It will also be interesting to see how much bang for your buck you can get with some of the strategies.

For example, I found it very interesting that a flipped classroom scored a 0.58. It takes so much time to plan versus a classroom discussion that scored a 0.82. Classroom discussion doesn’t take as much physical planning as a flipped classroom.

This could help me maximize my planning time and maximize the impact of my instruction.

There are many strategies teachers referenced. I suggested a few in my chart. What was fun to see were the actual examples teachers offered. A top ten list emerged.

Honorable Mentions

Before we explore the top ten list, here are some of the honorable mentions:

  • Deliberate Practice (0.79) with Gimkit.com 
  • Feedback (0.64) with a learning management system (LMS) such as Canvas or Teams
  • Metacognition Strategies (0.58) with Flipgrid
  • Problem-Solving Teaching (0.68) with Minecraft
  • Spaced vs. Massed Practice (0.65)
  • Success Criteria (0.88) with Google Classroom
  • The Modality Effect (0.55) with Wakelet
  • Vocabulary Program (0.63) with Padlet

Remember, you can explore each of the strategies. To do so, go to the Visible Learning Meta X database. Ready to see the top ten list of strategies? Well, you will have to wait for future blog entries to see the complete list. Let’s start with the number one strategy teachers mentioned.

classroom discussion

Strategy #1: Classroom Discussion

“I use classroom discussion to capture what a student has learned for that lesson.  I can see what they knew or didn’t know,” says one teacher. The most popular strategy, classroom discussion, lends itself to teachers’ imaginations. They are able to combine a wide variety of digital tools with classroom discussion.

Classroom discussions make it possible for students to connect with one another. Use this strategy to activate prior knowledge and explore new topics. Students are able to learn from others and show learning. What’s neat about classroom discussion is that it engages students and gives all students the chance to take part.

Did You Know?

On September 26th, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM (EST), attend a Whiteboard.chat webinar to answer questions and showcase features you need to know about. Sign up via Facebook and register for this learning opportunity. This is a free webinar on how to better use the digital whiteboard for remote teaching effectively.

Some Tips on Making Classroom Discussion Work

Consider these tips on making this strategy work best for your students:

  • Before students respond to questions online, have them discuss with a partner. Use a digital whiteboard where students can discuss. Whiteboard.fi and Jamboard allow collaboration.
  • Ask for student interpretations of questions, then clarify their thinking or redirect.
  • Use students’ individual responses as models. Your use of them can deepen further discussion for the whole class.
  • Be strategic about which student voices you amplify.

Let’s consider how some educators are focusing in on classroom discussion.

Examples of Digital Tools

Some of the notable examples included using these technologies:

  • Breakout Rooms: Depending on your platform of choice, teachers use breakout rooms. The use of breakout rooms to organize classroom discussions was popular. Platforms that support breakout rooms include Canvas, Seesaw, Teams, and Zoom. Each does so with varying degrees of success, of course.
  • Flipgrid: “The students can post a video of themselves answering the discussion question. They can watch/reply to other students’ answers,” says one educator. Students could have a question of the day posted on Tuesday and Thursday. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they respond to the question. Students also view responses from their peers. Flipgrid enjoys popular support, even among second grade teachers. “The kids love to make videos and I can quickly assess if they are understanding the objective.”
  • Google Jamboard: “Students can read what others are saying. Then they can contribute their own thoughts. They can sort elements into a graphic organizer, help each other spell or count … it’s like a digital center’s group!” Combine Jamboard with Zoom to capture student responses in real time. “It’s been fantastic, my students are always excited to ‘jam with each other’,” says an educator.
  • NearPod: “I have used Nearpod for classroom discussions,” said another teacher. Others have learned to use NearPod to support hybrid learning situations. “With Nearpod, I can assign the same lesson as a live lesson and a student-paced lesson with the click of a button. It ensures I continue reinforcing previous concepts, or even creating new ones! Learn how to do this here.“

New digital tools create more opportunities for interaction. Some of those new tools include Whiteboard.fi, Whiteboard.chat, and Curioasis .

Final Thoughts

Classroom discussion may be one of the most misunderstood high-effect size strategies. For many, creating engaging classroom discussions for students is a critical component of many lessons. While that is a priority, you also have another goal: to use classroom discussions as a source of data. Then you can use that data to adapt your instruction to better meet the needs of students.

In future blog entries, we’ll explore some of the other popular strategies. These are all strategies TCEA Remote Learning Educator course participants report using daily.

0 comments
3 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
flipped classroom
Educational TrendsGood Teaching

How to Start Your Flipped Classroom

by Jill Hobbs, Guest Author
written by Jill Hobbs, Guest Author

Are you sold on the flipped classroom model but don’t know where to start? I’d like to help you get there. I’m very passionate about this method and can’t wait for others to join me. 

It’s been a year and a half since I started flipping, and seeing the transformation of my class and my students is exhilarating. Students are more engaged and interested and there is more active learning in class. I’d like to share my knowledge with you to hopefully help lessen the anxiety of trying something new. 

Let’s get started with a few things I believe are important to a successful transition to a flipped classroom.

Consider Access First

First, incorporating technology is the most important aspect of flipping your classroom as this is how students will access materials outside of the school. In my district, we use the learning management system (LMS) Canvas to offer a blended learning approach.

An LMS is a great tool to deliver vast amounts of information through a web-based environment. It is easy for students and offers 24-hour access to information (i.e. calendars, learning content, multimedia, assignments, etc.) anywhere they choose as long as they have internet access. Learning your districts’ LMS is crucial.

You can also register for a free account if your district doesn’t have one.  Check out the 11 Best Free, Open Source LMS Tools for Your Small Business to explore some options.

Use the Right Tools

Secondly, integrating various digital tools for your students to use is also a must. One of the biggest struggles with flipped classrooms is having students come to class ready. In my class, students need to watch a video for homework and answer at least five questions to check understanding. How do you encourage students to complete this before class?

It helps to ensure that there are engaging, fun, and interactive activities during class for students to participate in when they come to class prepared. Make sure the students know this up front and they will come to class with their work completed so they can participate in all the excitement.

Plus, for the first several weeks, you can send emails to parents informing them of their child’s progress with homework. I also encourage a weekly newsletter so parents and students are well-aware of the expectations for the week. Whether you flip or not, communicating with parents regularly is very beneficial.

Useful Digital Tools

Here are a few digital tools I find very helpful to use with my class:

  • Edpuzzle – Edpuzzle uses videos you make or find to engage students. You can embed questions throughout the video to track comprehension.
  • Flipgrid – Flipgrid is a social learning platform.  Students are asked questions and respond with a video, allowing other students to comment on their post and opening the door for discussions.
  • Nearpod – Nearpod is an easy way to engage students with interactive lessons they can do individually (self-paced) or in groups. There are a lot of lessons to choose from, or you can create your own easily.
  • Kahoot! – Kahoot! is a game-based learning tool. There are a lot of games already created by other teachers and you can also create your own. Students are highly engaged as they answer questions, creating an exciting learning environment.
  • Quizizz – Quizizz is a fun and engaging way to provide student-paced formative assessments. 
  • Padlet – Padlet is a powerful resource for student collaboration. It is a digital canvas where students can upload videos or images, write text, or upload documents.

There is a lot to learn when flipping the classroom, so don’t try to figure it all out in one night. Learn as you go and don’t be afraid to go slowly. Start out with only flipping one lesson a week and then move to two lessons a week. 

The same goes for integrating various digital tools – one at a time, and before you know it, you’ll be flipping all your lessons. 

Let Your Students Shine

The best part about flipping is when your students shine. This past year, I had a student who really excelled with the flipped learning method. He struggled in math for years, and the first semester in my class was no different. However, once he and his parents grasped the concept of the flipped learning method, his grades and understanding vastly improved. 

The use of instructional videos, external videos, practice problems, quizzes, and interactive games to play assisted him to see if he “gets it.” His success was a combination of having all the resources easily and readily available to him, as well as his willingness to work hard.

In your flipped classroom, you could see these same results. So remember to start with one lesson at a time and go slowly. Don’t rush, as it takes time to learn all the resources, but you will get it. Once you do, you won’t want to go back.

unsplash-logoPhoto: stem.T4L
0 comments
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
leap
Good Teaching

Take the Ed Tech Leap and Make It Count!

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

“The day is almost done. Don’t cry until they leave.” Those words echoed in my mind as I stood there watching my class. I stopped talking. I stopped teaching. It was my first year of teaching and I was exhausted, drained, and burned out. I realized I was the Charlie Brown teacher. I was playing “sage on the stage” but all my students were hearing was, “wah wah wah wah.” I questioned my ability. I questioned my future as an educator. I had to choose: quit or change.

Well, six years later, I’m still teaching. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “I never lose. I either win, or I learn.” Challenges are opportunities to learn something new about ourselves. That first year was insanely challenging. But it started me on an incredible journey of discovery. The challenges I faced pushed me out of my comfort zone and into the realm of ed tech and innovation. These challenges ignited my teacher soul in ways I didn’t know I needed!

If it had been easy, technology integration might never have crossed my mind. However, I quickly learned that traditional teaching wasn’t working for me or my students. Something had to change, and ed tech was the avenue that revolutionized my classroom. It wasn’t an overnight success. There were plenty of bumps and a whole lot of crazy adventures (and there still are). But the payoff is worth it. If you’re standing at the edge intimidated by the leap, that means it’s time to do it. Effective technology integration is a game changer. Don’t wait any longer!

Increase Student Engagement

I needed to get away from the front of the room and put the learning and ownership in my students’ hands. Nearpod was the first tool I encountered that facilitated this shift. Its many different interactive features make formative assessment instantaneous, which makes it easy to adapt lessons to meet student needs. Sharing student work allows my students to analyze and discuss what they have done well and what they could do better. They identify and learn from mistakes from themselves and their peers. Leading the lesson from my iPad, I am no longer a prisoner of the front board. Finally, I can move around the room, helping students on the spot, checking in as we discuss and work. It has changed the dynamics of my classroom!

Nearpod was only the beginning for me. A plethora of options exist to increase engagement. Tools such as Kahoot! and Quizizz bring an element of competition and fun. These tools are used to assess prior knowledge or review concepts, either whole group or independently. They excite students about winning with knowledge while giving you feedback to adjust instruction. Put the learning in your students’ hands and empower their voice with tools like FlipGrid. Give them the opportunity to explain, make connections, discover, and teach each other. Putting a worksheet on a device isn’t revolutionary, but switching up the way students interact with the information can be. Using ed tech isn’t about what you use, it’s about how you use it.

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

There’s an abundance of tools available, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed and paralyzed. Don’t. Choose one tool and try it out. Don’t give up when it glitches or the internet goes down or any of the other million things that could happen, happen. Be patient…with the tech, with your students, and with yourself. And always ask for help…from anyone, including your students. Support equals survival!

Share Your Experiences

The first time I used Nearpod effectively (there were some definite misses along the way), I was bursting to tell anyone and everyone. It was an exciting shift. You’ll have those moments, too, so be sure to share your experiences. You might be the spark for a colleague who has been standing at the edge intimidated by the same leap. As you get your ed tech footing and begin experimenting with different tools, you’ll also realize it’s just as important to share the missteps as it is to share your successes. Use your voice and experience to empower others!

Embrace the Journey

I had no idea how much technology would change my professional journey. This adventure has connected me with people from all over the world. It has opened opportunities that I might never have considered before, like pursuing a degree in educational technology leadership. To be completely honest, there are ups and downs. Sometimes you’ll feel like a rock star and other times you’ll feel full of self-doubt. You may question what you have to contribute because others are doing incredible things. Embrace the words of Simon Sinek: “Innovation is not born from the dream, innovation is born from the struggle.” It’s your journey, own it!

Ed tech changed me and reignited my passion for teaching. How will it change you?

This is a guest blog by Karen Vallente. Karen is a middle school Algebra teacher in San Antonio, Texas who constantly pushes herself outside her comfort zone and loves learning new ways to engage students in authentic, meaningful learning experiences!

0 comments
3 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
math manipulatives
Good TeachingOnline Tools and Apps

Modernizing Math Manipulatives

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Have you ever become extremely frustrated during math instruction when trying to pass out a million math manipulatives to your students? Over the past few years in my 1:1 iPad first-grade classroom, I have been experimenting with using digital manipulatives instead of physical manipulatives. Along my journey, I have found the following applications the most beneficial for instruction:

Here are some of the ways I’ve used these tools in my math classroom.

Engaging the Many

A few years ago during my formal observation by one of my assistant principals, she pointed out that using the interactive whiteboard was only engaging one student at a time. That’s when it occurred to me that I needed to find a different way to engage all learners at the same time. After some doing some research, Nearpod seemed to be the answer. I introduced a Nearpod whole group to my students and they blew me away.

I assigned my students a 3D-shape lesson that used many of Nearpod’s tools. My students watched a video that introduced each shape. Then they used the drawing feature to identify the 3D shapes with real-world objects. After we identified shapes, students then used the collaboration feature. They were able to search within the tool for real world examples of each shape to share with the class. Students were excited and commenting on each other’s images. As a result of our discussion while using this tool, math became real and lived beyond the four walls of our classroom. Afterwards, students completed a quick quiz within the tool and it sent me the data immediately.

Blending and Flipping

This past year, I decided to implement a blended learning model during my math block. I created Nearpods for my students to complete independently during their technology station. I began flipping my math block by assigning self-paced Nearpod lessons. The lesson would begin with students watching a quick video explaining the math skill. I would have added audio to slides that would further teach the skill. Then students would complete a few practice problems using different Nearpod tools. After finishing this station, students then would meet me for small group instruction. I could look at their data quickly from the Nearpod and use it to guide my lesson and correct any misconceptions.

Digital Manipulatives

During small group instruction, my students show their learning by using digital manipulative applications.  My favorite application for math is SchoolKit Math because it houses almost any manipulative an elementary student would need.  We have used many of the manipulatives, but the one that stands out most is when my students are able to create examples of time with clock hands and write the digital form beside their clock inside of the application. In addition to teaching time, learners have created different amounts of money using the coins in SchoolKit Math. They can erase their board quickly and we can move right on to the next amount of money.  It makes for easy clean up and no loss of instruction time.

Other applications such as Pieces Basic allow students to model their thinking and record their answers directly on the screen. After my students have become comfortable with the applications, they begin to share their learning. We use Seesaw The Learning Journal in my classroom to connect home to school and to give my students an audience for their learning.  When students feel like they have mastered the new math skill, they screenshot the application and upload it into their Seesaw Journal. It’s amazing because they are able to voice record their thinking and how they modeled their problem before fully uploading the image. After it is uploaded, other students can comment on their work, as well as their parents. This has strengthened the connection between home and school.

Experimenting with digital manipulatives and flipping my first-grade classroom has changed the way I teach. I urge teachers to take a chance with the amazing opportunities of the digital world.  It’s that digital footprint we encourage our students to make that will give them the edge in their future endeavors. Choosing not to embrace, teach, and use technology is failing the ones we are pushing so hard to succeed—our students.

This is a guest blog by Brittany Beaird. Brittany is a first grade teacher at Nash Elementary in Texarkana, Texas. She has taught for 11 years, with experience in teaching both first- and second-grade students. She has a passion for finding new technology to keep all first-grade students engaged in the learning process, as well as teaching her peers how to use technology effectively in the classroom.

0 comments
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
an orange sign depicting test center entrance
iOS Tips and Tricks

Solving the Testing Problem with iPad Assessment Apps

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“Miguel, I hear complaints from educators about standardized testing almost every day,” said Lori Gracey, TCEA Executive Director, recently, “and I fully understand how they feel. All of those tests take much-needed time away from learning, they’re so 19th century (Scantron sheets and pencils? Really?), they’re unfair in that they pigeonhole students, they’re hard on the kids and teachers alike, and so much more. ”

“Those are all valid complaints,” I responded.

“Yet,” Lori responded, “standardized testing isn’t going away. What we can hope and work toward, however, is that it will change.”

At an Apple briefing yesterday, an assessment expert shared what other states are doing to improve the quality and depth of assessment and incorporate technology into the process. She showed us how technology can enable the tests to go beyond guessing and multiple choice and into the realm of really helping to determine what a student does and doesn’t know. To see examples of some of these type of questions that can be answered using technology, scroll toward the bottom of this page of demos. You’ll find test questions where students must draw or highlight on an image, label a map with drag and drop, sort or order lists by moving items around, plot points and lines on a grid, and much more that cannot be done now with standard paper and pencil testing.

Join the ongoing TCEA Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) SkypeChat via your mobile device or online. Explore and share concepts at the intersection of teaching, learning, leading, and technology!

The Apple expert reminded us that there are three types of assessment: formative, interim, and summative. Then she shared some great iPad assessment apps that mimic some of the actions needed for the newer standardized tests being tried out in other states. Below are some of my favorite apps that fit these categories, along with alternatives.

Category #1 – Tests, Quizzes, and Polls

For this category, Socrative, Nearpod, and Learnosity (2016 EdTech Award Finalist) were suggested. If you are not familiar with Socrative, it enables you to quickly have students complete an assessment and then aggregates the results. Other similar tools include Kahoot! and Quizizz. Nearpod is another phenomenal tool that facilitates group sharing of information and resources. To get an idea about Nearpod’s use in classrooms, check out this TCEA 2016 presentation that is hosted in Nearpod. In Nearpod, the teacher is able to quickly embed a variety of content, including interactive elements, and share itsocrativeteacher4 with students. Some additional assessment tools not mentioned include Plickers and Formative. Of course, you’ll want to keep this point in mind:

…if you’re a committed, caring educator, then you would never follow all of this bad advice about formative assessment. Instead, you would use it as a powerful tool to help modify your teaching strategies and activities and to better help your students learn the critical content they need to be successful. You would use a variety of resources, both technological and non-tech, to help your kids remain interested and excited about what they are studying. And you would instantly share the individual results with them so that they can see where they need to go with their own learning. Read more.

Category #2 – Make, Say, Write, Do

ideamentIn this group, several of my favorite apps were mentioned, including Explain Everything (which just came out with a collaborative whiteboard version of itself, Explain Everything Discover). Folks often mention Educreations Interactive Whiteboard as a nice alternative to Explain Everything, but the former is my all-time favorite because of its versatility in creating and exporting projects to a variety of cloud storage solutions.

For concept map creation, which is a very powerful way to assess student understanding,  Grafio Lite 3 is one option. I typically lean towards the less expensive, free Ideament (with in-app purchases) (shown right), although some prefer $4.99 SimpleMind.

And, of course, image editing can be an awesome way to annotate content. Several apps exist that make that possible, including the oldie but still goodie Skitch, as well as my new pick, Annotate. You can also use the no-cost SnapSeed image editor that includes some nice filters.

What’s neat about these apps is that students can easily share with each other how to accomplish new things, fostering independence and discovery learning. And they all give the teacher critical information to help differentiate learning based on what students already understand. And, when the testing finally catches up to what educators have been doing in the classroom with technology, then your students will be ready to shine.

I encourage you to try out one or two of these apps that might be new to you. If you want to learn more about formative assessment, check out our blog Five Fabulous Formative Assessments for Your Classroom. And download the free iBook Tools for Formative Assessment that includes apps for all three categories of assessment.

Image Credit

Davis, Josh. 2008. Available online at https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedavisblog/2230010178/

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail