IHMS Tech Tips

Formative is an assessment site that we have used in staff meetings in the past.  "F ormative  is a web assessment tool that works on any device. it allows teachers to create assignments, collect data, and provide feedback to students in real-time." Signing up is simple and syncs with your Google account.  You only need to create an account if you want to create your own Formatives or use the library.  Students do not need an account. There are 1000s of pre-made Formatives in the public library.  You can search by keyword, grade level, and standard.   Formatives can be in a variety of question formats with a few different assignment types.  You can upload pictures or PDFs for students to reference while taking their assessment.  There's even a "show your work" question type that allows students to draw a response.  I could see using the Wacom tablets for this to show student work in math, to have students draw on a m...

If you are looking for another way to assess your students' learning, try Quizalize !  Quizalize can, " Turn boring tests into fun classroom team games. Instantly know who needs help and what they need help with. And effortlessly assign follow-up activities that boost student results." Registering is simple and can be done through your Google account.  Once you have created your account, create a class.  You can create your own assessment, or use the search bar to find something that has already been created. Assign activities to the classes you have created and share the Quizalize with your class using a unique code (same as Kahoot). With already-created assessments, you can modify it to fit your needs, or simply assign it to your class. When students are actively working on an assessment, they are given points for correct answers and for speed which help boost their team score.   Quizalize activities are not limited ...

" Plickers is a powerfully simple tool that lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data without the need for student devices."  The prep work is minimal, and students will be fully engaged during your lesson or review as they don't need their device in front of them!  The only required equipment would be your iPad. Plickers can be used to check for understanding throughout a lesson, as an assessment, or as a tool to spark curiosity and prior knowledge, much like a Blind Kahoot . Teachers will first want to sign up for a Plickers account.   Signing up is free and you can do so by connecting to your Google account. After signing up, you will be taken through a quick tutorial of the different menu buttons.  Teachers will create a class for each class period they teach, and print one set of Plickers cards for the whole day. A close up of a card shows that, depending on the direction you hold the card, a different answer will be submit...

Most of you are familiar with Kahoot, a site that uses questions in a game-like format to review material, but have you heard of Blind Kahooting'?  This method of using Kahoot in the classroom actually uses it as an instructional tool, rather than a review/test tool.  We know that students love using Kahoot, so try taking it to another level.  Some are saying this is the way Kahoot was designed to be used and is the most effective. The concept of a Blind Kahoot is "all about building knowledge brick by brick...[they]  are designed to give every learner a chance to feel success and motivation throughout the game, and with long lasting effects.   In a single game, you'll be sparking curiosity about the new topic, laying the foundations for understanding increasingly complex concepts, and giving learners the opportunity to immediately and successfully apply their knowledge." To get started with a Blind Kahoot, you would first ask a question that engages the stu...