Sometimes I like to pretend that I have some real innate technology skill or some gathered expertise, but the truth is, I am just fairly skilled at finding answers, playing and practice. The last computer class I took was in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1995 during which I learned how to create a database using FileMaker Pro and do some desktop publishing with a VERY old version of Microsoft Office. Not really helping me out so much these days! So where do I find the latest tricks, or go to to find how to make some of these applications work? Well my tips for this week is to check out two great podcast series: MacReach (Part of EdReach) andMacMost. Both series offer fantastic video tutorials on topics ranging from backing up information to creating podcasts using Garageband. The video tutorials can be watched directly on the websites, found on youtube, or in iTunes. I subscribe to both in iTunes so that they are ready and waiting for me when I get a minute to learn. Enjoy!
Leveraging technology does not always need to be about making things "cooler" or "more engaging" for students. Its really okay if a technology just makes a teacher's life easier, and/or makes the classroom run just a little bit smoother. And SOMETIMES, technology can do both. With that in mind, here are two great tools...SOCRATIVE and POLL EVERYWHERE. Both are free for education and have the power to change the flow of your classroom, engage your students, create a quick assessment tool, and make teachers happy.
So what are these tools? It depends on how you choose to use them!
Both can function as tools to create quizzes and be quick response or "clicker" systems in your classrooms.
Both can be create anonymous polling mechanisms or can require students/teachers to enter their names.
Both can be accessed via smartphone or through the internet. Socrative has an app available for mobile devices...don't need a device for every student...kids can work in pairs/small groups.
Both have multiple options for question type...true/false, multiple choice, open response, etc.
Examples for use:
Just finished reading a passage from a novel and want to do a quick check-in with kids regarding their understanding of what you read...create a quick quiz and have the kids quickly respond.
Students a little shaky on some basic math facts or struggling with spelling or definitions of unit vocabulary...have students do a quick response
Have a 1:1 classroom and think kids might be off-task...use a quick open response question to pull them back in to the discussion.
Take a quick temperature of the room without making kids raise their hands.
Admission:
I should admit that I prefer Socrative. It is designed for classroom use (PollEverywhere is not academic specific), and I love I have an assigned room number. My students know how to get there, and can do it quickly, which enables me to get to preplanned activities with ease, or to throw a question at them spontaneously because the direction a lesson took dictated the need.
