#70 Days Thinking Through Technology 2: Assessment Tools

Goal 1: Where possible modify and redefine our work using technology. 

I'm looking at three or four tools for assessments:

My number one go-to is Google Forms. There are a couple of things about forms I like.  One is that you can use them as generic forms.  I can still create the paper copy quizzes - project them, or put a class set of quizzes in sleeves.  Students can work out the problems on paper, and enter their answers in the forms.  I can get a quick grade using Flubaroo, sort the papers - reviewing the ones that scored poorly, spending a bit more time on those.

I created several Socrative quizzes last year so I have those handy for use this year.  It will be easy to tweak them, make them fit this year's  classes.  I used Socrative for short learning checks.  You can leave the "classroom" open over night as well - or open it for students who need to work on a quiz from home.  I know there are integrity issues that way, but I ask students to turn in work to support their answers on Socrative.

Kahoot and KnowledgeHook are great for informal assessments that don't affect grades.  I can quickly tell what questions are giving students difficulty, where we need some additional practice.  And they add a definite element of fun to the room!  I rarely create a Kahoot game from scratch.  Most often I search for one already made and make any adjustments needed.  One thing I'd like to do this year is to get students to create Kahoot games for personal review.  

I didn't use Edmodo last year, but I want to revisit again this year.  The "snapshot" feature intrigues me.  They've added the Texas TEKS for both Algebra 1 and 2.  I can see assigning the Algebra 1 snapshot questions to preview a unit, to determine what students retained from previous courses, to get a read on what they know.  Until I get the hang of them, I don't envision assigning a grade to the snapshots.  I'm curious about the questions and if they are worthwhile.  Has anyone used the Edmodo Snapshot feature??

Other informal assessment tools that I have used briefly are IXL and MangaHigh - both without subscriptions - no money for those.  I keep wanting to use Quia because I hear so many teachers suggesting it but writing the math in laTeX is challenging for me.  Does anyone else use Quia ... and if so, what's the key?

Are there other online quiz programs that are suitable for math?  Share in the comments!

Addendum ... just read an article on 10 formative assessment tools for 2015.  I need to check out Go Formative.

Math Munching today!

I introduced my Algebra 2 students to Math Munch today. We only had a few minutes, so I asked students to read just the October 10 post on Tsoro Yematatu, Fano’s Plane, and GIFs. Our school has a school-wide initiative for writing across the curriculum. Today I asked students to write about what they noticed, what intrigued them about that post in Edmodo. In addition to making their individual posts, I asked students to comment on at least 3 other classmates' posts.

The school-wide goal on writing is significant. In addition to that goal, I want students to experience math beyond our typical curriculum. I want students to talk about math with classmates. Using Edmodo allows students to use their social media skills.

This is only our first attempt. Here are a few responses I noticed today ...

EH said, "I found tsoro yematatu to be very interesting in the sense that it is essentially a more complex version of tic-tac-toe. While I have never played it, I did play Nine Men's Morris last year, which is very similar. Also, the Pass 'em On GIF caught my attention right away. Originally, I thought that if you followed one red dot, it would eventually make its way to the bottom of the screen. However, after studying it closely, I was able to determine that the dots rotate in a triangle-like formation. Therefore, a red dot at the top of the screen could never make it near the bottom of the screen."

AM reflected,"I found the Klein groups very fascinating, i had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that the Klein bottle was only one sided. I have heard of the Klein bottle prior to reading this blog. The kleinian groups remind me of fractal art."

BC wrote, "While playing Tsoro Yematatu I found that most of the time there are only 0-2 possible moves to make. From the time all the tiles are on the board everything that happens seems pretty forced. This leads me to believe that most of the strategy is in the original placement of the tiles, not so much in how you move them. I found it interesting that a game of movement was more a game of placement." A classmate wrote back, "That is very cool discovery B-, I didn't even think to play the game and study the strategy. That shows very good perception/math skills."

EO posted, "In the post from last Thursday, I found it interesting how enjoyable geometry becomes when you apply to something you like. When you compare math to games like Pass 'Em On, you tend to wonder how games like that work and you begin to enjoy yourself. It's also interesting to understand the history of math and how it can originate in places as far away as Zimbabwe. Math can be found in all subjects, even history. I found this website very simple and interesting and I think math can be more enjoyable when you compare it to other aspects of learning."

There are many more posts ... these are just a few.  I am responding to as many as I can.  I'll repeat the lesson tomorrow with my B-Day students.  I'm hoping to build in a regular "chat" around Math Munch postings and eventually have students write more extensively about a topic of interest.

My new Fave ... Edmodo!

I used Edmodo for the first time this week to give a quiz.

It's a win-win situation.

• Students receive instant feedback.  
• They can review the quiz questions they missed - right then or later.  
• The program randomizes the questions and answers in case you have wandering eyes in your classroom.  
• The program provides me with graphs of how well students did on each question so I know which ones I might need to spiral back in our conversations.
• I can easily create a 'retake' quiz because when you ask to edit a previously created quiz, the program automatically opens a copy for you.  That copy can be renamed, questions tweaked ... and the retake is ready to go.
• I don't take home 150 papers daily ... fight to grade them all ... so I can return them in a timely manner!

Formative assessment just got easier by a long shot!  I can give a quick check, look at the scores, determine who needs help, create small teaching groups or set up tutoring sessions.

I like to take baby steps when using new platforms.  After we have taken a couple of quizzes and we have that process under control, I want to use the front page ... "notes" very much like the "status" page on Facebook, for class discussion.  I plan to use the Math Munch site as our source of discussion topics.  Hopefully I can report on that in a week or two!