The title of each tool is a link that will take you to that tool's website to learn more or sign up.
Please note that while the descriptions of the tools may be similar, the example links
will take you to new examples of the tool being used as an assessment tool.
Please note that while the descriptions of the tools may be similar, the example links
will take you to new examples of the tool being used as an assessment tool.
PLICKERS
Plickers is the perfect way to get (literally) get a read on every student's understanding, but without having a class set of devices. Instead, each student holds up a card with a unique QR Code. Each side of the card has a letter (A, B, C, D). Whichever way the student holds the card upright, signals their answer to a multiple choice question. The teacher then scans the cards with their device and the app records students' answers and shows a bar graph of the results instantly. From there, the teacher can decide the next step of the lesson. This app is great for formative assessing or review! Cards can be printed off the website for free, including extra large ones for larger sized rooms. Plickers account will take answers anonymously or you can set up your account and assign students so their names pop up (see picture). Take into consideration: (1) The larger the card, the more trouble you might have seeing the ones in the back, due to those in front blocking it. (2) Make sure students know to keep their fingers on the very edge of the paper. If their finger blocks any of the QR Code, it won't read correctly. (3) Cameras will have a hard time reading cards that have been laminated due to the shine. If you prefer to have cards laminated, consider buying a set off amazon that are made with a flat/ non-shiny coat. Check out these presentation slides for more information!
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Socrative
There are two versions of the Socrative app/login: student and teacher. You would create and manage your quizzes from the teacher account. Students would download the student app or go to the student login page of the website and type in the "room number" that you choose. You can include multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions. You can also choose to control the test at the "teacher pace" and release one question at a time and see the anonymous summary of the results OR the student paced setting which allows students to answer all the questions in one sitting, without interruption. At the end of each quiz, each students' answers to every question are compiled and you will have the option to view, view later, download, export into an excel sheet, or be emailed a report. So while showing the results to the class is anonymous, you can later see what students you need to check in with one-on-one to address any misconceptions. Socrative works on all devices. Similar alternatives for quiz-like apps include Kahoot and Quizizz.
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Poll Everywhere
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Poll Everywhere is a great tool for collecting formative assessment quickly and in real time! It can even be integrated into Google Slides, PowerPoint, and Keynote presentations! Essentially Poll Everywhere is a clicker system that allows you to ask a question, collect live responses, and then see Instant results!
There are so many question types include multiple choice questions, word clouds, Question & Answer, Clickable Image, Surveys, Competitions, Charts, Voting, Ranking, Brainstorming and more! With premium (paid) features, you can even get reports of the responses and share polls among instructors. Free and premium accounts are limited to 40 responses per poll (max audience size). Audience members, or learners, can respond across multiple devices and even text their answer in! |
Answer Garden
Best used for one word answers or super short phrases, Answer Garden is an embed-able tool that allows you to ask a question and receive results in real time. When students submit their answer, it will show up on the "garden" below. As more people say the same answer, that word or phrase (if spelled exactly the same), will get larger making the more popular answers bigger and more prominent. Just be mindful that students will see the "answers" in real time so there's a possibility they will read what is below and copy. Answer Garden can be used to crowd source information, brainstorm topics, or used as a voting tool.
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Video link: https://youtu.be/LdRMqJWyvik
Google Drive: Forms
Besides using Google Drive for creating documents and presentations, the FORMS is a great tool for assessing student learning. A Google Form is an online "survey" where you can pose multiple choice, short answer, scaled, drop down menu, etc. type questions. You can make questions required (I highly suggest making the students' name and/or class be the first question). Once students take the assessment, the results are automatically compiled and shared with you in a spreadsheet. Check out the Flubaroo extention that you can install to have the computer grade questions for you or the Goobric extension to grade with rubrics. Also, Google Drive has an app so you can work on your assignments anytime, anywhere, on any device. Click to check out a past presentation to learn more in depth about the Basics of Google Drive.
Edpuzzle
Do you use videos in your instruction? Why not turn watching videos from a passive task into an interactive one! EdPuzzle allows you to embed questions throughout a video (even YouTube clips!) to track students' understanding. You can crop the video to use only what part you need, add your own voice to insert audio notes or narrate in your own words, and embed the questions along the way to give students immediate feedback. You can find a video from YouTube, Khan Academy, LearnZillion, Crash Course, and more OR upload your own! Click here to view the intro video from EdPuzzle.com. Check out a past presentation to learn about the features more in depth!
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Blendspace (TES) |
Use Blendspace as a learning module to allow students to explore resources at their own pace, without wandering the net. Put YouTube videos, websites, uploaded files, pictures, etc. into a "canvas". You can check for understanding using the quiz feature and foster collaboration as students share their thoughts in the comment box for each slide. Students can provide feedback by using the like and dislike buttons. Meanwhile, the teacher can monitor all activity from the teacher account including who's saying what and score on the quizzes. Differentiation is made easy by assigning students to certain groups and sharing alike or different canvases with each group. You can also embed your canvas onto your website or in your course! Click here to see an example of a blendspace I use with my sixth graders. Check out a past presentation to learn in depth about the features of blendspace!
Instead of boring paper/pencil for your next exit ticket, ask students a question and tell them to "pin" their answer on a virtual cork board. They have the ability to type text only or include a link, upload a file, or take a picture with their webcam. You can later share your "padlet wall" to social media or export as an image, PDF, Excel, or CSV file. You can also email, print, or embed it. The best part, is that students don't have to log in to add to the board! But don't worry, you can choose to "moderate" posts before they are shown online. Click to see an example of how I've used Padlet with my hybrid class to check their understanding at the end of an activity.
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FlipGrid is a video discussion platform that allows the educator to pose a prompt or question, and students can reply using videos. After they finish their video response, the app will take a snapshot picture of them to display on the discussion "Grid". Depending on the settings, students can then add stickers on top of their snapshot to show a little personality. FlipGrid is great for assessing knowledge. You can do a simple question and answer discussion, or do something a little more fun like a FlipGrid Hunt! Check out this post about turning a Flip Grid into a Scavenger Hunt!
When the teacher creates a new "Grid" (the Discussion Board or community), they can choose the Community Type which controls who can join the Grid: School Email, Student ID, or PLCs and Public. You can also password protect the Grid, receive notifications when new videos are added, determine the Active Status of the Grid (Active or Hidden), whether students can download their videos after creating a response, and allow auto-generated captions.
Multiple "Topics" can be added to each Grid. Instructors can adjust the settings per topic to decide the title, display date, and set launch and freeze dates, maximum length of video (ranging between 15 seconds and 5 minutes), the description/ question prompt, the ability to moderate and approve videos before they become visible to others, the topic status (Active, Frozen- can view but not record new, or Hidden- not visible), add resources and attachments, allow selfie decorations/stickers, allow video reactions (students can "like" each others' videos, display # of video views, permit student-to-student replies, and feedback options!
FlipGrid is available across all devices and can be browser-based. There is also an app available for mobile devices.
Multiple "Topics" can be added to each Grid. Instructors can adjust the settings per topic to decide the title, display date, and set launch and freeze dates, maximum length of video (ranging between 15 seconds and 5 minutes), the description/ question prompt, the ability to moderate and approve videos before they become visible to others, the topic status (Active, Frozen- can view but not record new, or Hidden- not visible), add resources and attachments, allow selfie decorations/stickers, allow video reactions (students can "like" each others' videos, display # of video views, permit student-to-student replies, and feedback options!
FlipGrid is available across all devices and can be browser-based. There is also an app available for mobile devices.
Last Updated: April 15, 2019