Transformaing Teaching with Technology

 

Transforming Teaching with Technology

Assessments are crucial for teachers to check students’ understanding of the material taught in class. However, it can also be beneficial to all students since assessments can also be a way of giving them feedback of where they are academically. It can be summative (End-of-Quarter or End-of-Unit tests) or formative (assessments done throughout the learning of a new unit). I believe that both are important but formative or informal assessments done throughout the lessons are important both for the students and teachers. It gives students feedback and it gives teachers an idea of when to move on to the next topic. Formative assessments can be graded but they don’t have to as well. As a teacher, I try my best to gather as much data as possible when I can to gather multiple sources of evidence. I do not want to assume anything from any of my students.

Some formative assessments can be the following:

• A quick warm-up
• Exit tickets
• Kahoot
• A quick group discussion about a topic discussed in class
• A quick 4 questions quiz every week that take 10 minutes to do

As you can see, they do not have to take too much time. Teachers should be open minded and flexible when creating these types of assessments. It gives students a quick way to understand the topic, learn from one another and reflect on what they know. Similarly, it is a good way for teachers to reflect on their own teaching, gather data, and get some feedback from students.

Some of the technology tools I would use to conduct formative assessments are the following:

• Kahoot: I know a lot of teachers use it now but I like it to quickly review the materials we’ve learned in class. Students seem to still like it. I would use it as a quick warm-up or even an exit-ticket depending on what I have planned for the day. It helps teachers keep track of data by collecting students’ answers on a spreadsheet.
• Quizizz: It’s similar to Kahoot. However, students can go on their own pace and they don’t have to wait for others to respond. Teacher can show on the smartboard how the students are doing compared to others. It creates a competitive environment and students seem to get motivated by it. I would use this as a quick warm-up, exit ticket, quiz, survey, etc. It is also easy to keep track of data because it populates the students answers in a spreadsheet.  
• Socrative: It is another similar tool to Kahoot and Quizizz. Nevertheless, they all offer slightly different ways you can do formative assessments in class.

As you can see on this picture, socrative offers quick ways to do quizzes, compete with other students (it can be done in groups or individually), exit tickets, quick multiple choice, true or false and even ask an open ended question.

Socrative also helps teachers gather data easily by uploading it on a spreadsheet as well.  

• Nearpod: I’ve used this “interactive” slides many times with my students. It helps shift your instruction to a more student-centered learning atmosphere in your class. It is a great way to have students participate with one another and input their ideas and share them in class. You will need a computer or an iPad to be able to do use this tool. Students can draw, add pictures, even record their voices, share their ideas with others, etc. All happens live and they can all see each others’ work. It keeps them accountable and they usually like using technology tools like Nearpod. It also helps teachers gather data quickly by populating answers in spreadsheets for reflecting and teaching purposes.

   

    All the technology tools I have mentioned are all great ways to use them as formative assessments. In a perfect world, we would all have great computers, iPads, Smart boards, etc. but we know that it’s not true. I think as teachers we do what we can with the technology that we have available. Thankfully, our students usually have some kind of device that would help us use the technology tools mentioned above. They can be done with iPods or cellphones. In addition, all the tools mentioned above help teachers gather data quickly since it populates the students’ answers in one spreadsheet for reflection, gathering evidence, feedback for both students and teacher, and it saves teachers a lot of time! It is amazing when technology actually does what it promises and helps teachers with gathering data, and it helps them focus their energy on helping the students have a fun and safe learning environment.