Point to Ponder
Feedback is the nature of the game. To get an accurate read on student achievement and what they need you have to collect feedback and give feedback.
So, with all of this feedback going on, why not have some fun with it!
So, with all of this feedback going on, why not have some fun with it!
Opening
Every lesson has an opening. Whether you use the 5E design model and are first "Engaging" or in the Workshop model and are "Opening" the lesson we are talking about the beginning.
Here are a few ways you can engage them in an exciting way and get some feedback on what they know before you begin at the same time.
Here are a few ways you can engage them in an exciting way and get some feedback on what they know before you begin at the same time.
iBrainstorm
At A Glance:
iBrainstorm is an application for your tablet. Viewing the collaboration as it is happening would be best done by AirServer to just plugging into the projector. It is best described as being a brainstorm platform on steroids. Students can collaborate together over a topic, you can collaborate together just as you would in a group at the "meeting area" with sticky notes.
How do I use it: I pose the question, just as I would if in a typical meeting. For example, "What do we know about multiplication?" As students collaborate together and pop corn out responses I enter the items on sticky notes. They can come up to the screen/board and we group them and arrange them as needed. Once we are finished we have a thinking map. I easily take a screen shot and can share it with them for their Google Drives or print a copy for them to put in their journals.
Be Aware: These are created as .ibs products when shared. I recommend just taking a screen shot to have a standard photo file. Students can then save to their Drives or you can print easier.
- Interactive ThinkingMap/Sticky Notes
- Printable & Shareable
- Invite up to 3 to collaborate with you
iBrainstorm is an application for your tablet. Viewing the collaboration as it is happening would be best done by AirServer to just plugging into the projector. It is best described as being a brainstorm platform on steroids. Students can collaborate together over a topic, you can collaborate together just as you would in a group at the "meeting area" with sticky notes.
How do I use it: I pose the question, just as I would if in a typical meeting. For example, "What do we know about multiplication?" As students collaborate together and pop corn out responses I enter the items on sticky notes. They can come up to the screen/board and we group them and arrange them as needed. Once we are finished we have a thinking map. I easily take a screen shot and can share it with them for their Google Drives or print a copy for them to put in their journals.
Be Aware: These are created as .ibs products when shared. I recommend just taking a screen shot to have a standard photo file. Students can then save to their Drives or you can print easier.
Padlet
At a Glance:
How do I use it? I use this for much more than an engagement tool at times, although that is the primary function for my classroom as a whole group activity. Students are posed the question and respond. They are adding their own "post" to the wall so it is more intimate and can take a bit longer. They can also add pictures, video, and web links to help support their entries. Feedback is easily given since the discussion is in real time and happening as they are posting or after posts are made as a discussion topic. Students can continue to post on the wall during the lesson or activity to continue the feedback throughout the entire topic. Be Aware: Check how you have the privacy set for the wall before using the wall. Leaving it public allows others to post. |
ExampleThis Padlet was the Engagement piece to gain ideas for cities and activities to visit in Texas.
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Workperiod
Doing the work is always part of the day. No matter what you call it, work period, explore, or explain, it is part of the lesson cycle and has been since the dawn of teaching.
Why not give it a bump and give you the ability to see what they are ALL thinking instead of just one or two during the conversation?
Why not give it a bump and give you the ability to see what they are ALL thinking instead of just one or two during the conversation?
We already hit on this in the opening section so I'll skip right into how I use it...
How do I use it?
How do I use it?
- Digital Journal - Students have their own private Padlet. Either during the lesson or while they are working through the activities they are journaling or responding to questions posed as we go through the topics. The Padlet gave them the ability to provide actual digital artifacts to a otherwise only handwritten item. For example: The Padlet links below are to some of the students Force & Energy Journals with they were working through our Carnival. Being able to see the videos during our status checks with me gave students the ability to respond clearly to any clarifying questions asked. I am admittedly one person so this gave me the ability to check on them and give feedback either in the moment or the next time we checked in for the project. They could also show others their pictures and videos easily and since they used different devices all the time it kept the time line running so they didn't loose their materials. Privacy mattered so they were password protected for their privacy.
NearPod |
At a Glance:
How do I use it? I mainly use this during Science lessons that are guiding be the facts. Science is very hands on, however, there are those Explain moments that happen and times when we simply have to recap or deliver some information. Nearpod gives me the ability to put questions and items where I need them to ensure we are still on the same page. I also love giving a short 3-5 question closing summary quiz at the end.
Be Aware: Make the PowerPoint, Keynote, or Slide Show into your Google Drive. You can import the PPT into the creator from there and then simply insert the questions between the slides as you need them. This will give you some really nice looking NearPods and can jazz up those PPTs you already know you have! Also, the free account has a size limit... I have three accounts!
- Slideshow with Embedded questions that they respond to
- Open Ended, multiple choice, polls
- Purchased license gets a few more items.
- Share with teammates so they can use them without having to make it from scratch.
- Extensive online free selection on some topics.
How do I use it? I mainly use this during Science lessons that are guiding be the facts. Science is very hands on, however, there are those Explain moments that happen and times when we simply have to recap or deliver some information. Nearpod gives me the ability to put questions and items where I need them to ensure we are still on the same page. I also love giving a short 3-5 question closing summary quiz at the end.
Be Aware: Make the PowerPoint, Keynote, or Slide Show into your Google Drive. You can import the PPT into the creator from there and then simply insert the questions between the slides as you need them. This will give you some really nice looking NearPods and can jazz up those PPTs you already know you have! Also, the free account has a size limit... I have three accounts!
Handouts |
At A Glance:
- Paperless activities shared with students to complete on their device
- Students submit/respond back to you
- You provide feedback and grading
- NO PAPER!
Close it, Review it, extend it
Revisit items already DOne
Did your class make a Padlet or a thinking map through iBrainstorm? This is a great time to have students pull those back up and see what they should add or change.
KahootAt A Glance:
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Create Them
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Take Them
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Quizzing and Reviewing are two things that constantly happen in math. It is needed as a large group, small group, and individual basis for a variety of reasons. So, making the mundane exciting once in a while is a great way to spark the engagement and get them thinking.
If you can quiz it multiple choice style you can Kahoot.it.
How do I use it?
Getting students to be more interactive and engaged through a cumulative review is easy with Kahoot. I create the review that otherwise would have been just another quiz or worksheet and make it interactive. I can address any concerns in the moment and explain immediately if the class is missing something.
If you can quiz it multiple choice style you can Kahoot.it.
How do I use it?
Getting students to be more interactive and engaged through a cumulative review is easy with Kahoot. I create the review that otherwise would have been just another quiz or worksheet and make it interactive. I can address any concerns in the moment and explain immediately if the class is missing something.
Plickers |
At a Glance:
Only you need to download an app and you can get up to 40 of the student scan cards for free.
- Quiz and assessment tool with no need for student devices.
Only you need to download an app and you can get up to 40 of the student scan cards for free.
Google Drive can Drive your Class!
Google drive offers some amazing abilities when it comes to giving feed back and collaborating with work.
Docs - Slides - Sheets
Say your students are having to respond to a prompt or create a presentation as a group or individually. When using Google Docs, Slides, or Sheets they can actually all work on the same thing in real time. Students love being able to see each other type at the same time, see what you change or edit for the document, and read the comments and suggestions others may have. Sharing between people is easy and using this during planning it amazing as well. Unlike the "shared drives" of the past, everyone can be using and editing the same thing at the same time without the annoying "read only" issue, saving and re-saving, or eventually discovering that somehow it is just lost.
Forms |
At a Glance:
Check out the link above for more details and examples of how I have used it with my class.
- multiple choice, short answer, essay, and more
- Create the form
- Share the form
- Students respond to the form
- You grade the activity with no paper needed. And add-ons like Flubaroo will grade it for you!
Check out the link above for more details and examples of how I have used it with my class.