Using e-clicker as an interactive assessment tool

We haverecently explored an app that was recommended by some other educators using ipod touches in the classroom. It is called e-clicker and priced at $9.95, we had to be sure it would be worthwhile.

So what is it?

eClicker is a personal response system that allows teachers to poll their class during a lesson. It provides

teachers with the real-time feedback they need to be sure their messages are being received. Developed for smartphones and laptops, eClicker leverages the hardware already in the hands of many students providing a low cost polling solution for the classroom.

How did we use it?

We used it by first creating 8 simple division questions that Grade 3

students had been working on in class. For example, 16 cents shared between 4 students would be how much? We had 4 multiple choice answers.

How did e-clicker perform?

It worked really well. There was a few ipod touches that lagged a little bit (the question didn't show up right away). The students loved it though and were very engaged. They loved the immediate feedback as it told them after each question whether they got it right or not and much like American Idol, showed a nice colourful bar graph on what everyone else picked. There is a website where you can log on and create the questions that way. We found it a bit buggy but overall it was much faster than designing the questions on the ipod touches. Overall, an excellent investment for $10!

How do we plan to use it in the future?

We thought we could differentiate the questions and have 2 different sets of questions at the same time. So we would have 2 hosts of questions, easier and challenge questions. We also thought it would be great to have the students design their own questions and test each other

on concepts!

Evernote-A gateway to collaboration

One of the main goals we've had with this iPod Touch pilot program is to try and ensure that the ipod touches are being used in the most effective ways possible. It is quite easy to fall into the trap of having the students play Math apps in a Maths center. However, if they were only doing this on computers, I would question whether computers were being used in the best way possible. Let me elaborate. Having students do low level thinking tasks in any situation, isn't always the best use of learning time. Glancing at Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Domains, remembering and understanding are at the bottom of the totem pole so to speak. While creating is a much complex learning behavior, that is not to say that some knowledge isn't important but through creating, you are forced as a learner to apply what you know to new situations. If you don't know anything, it's hard to do that ;)

So applying this model to technology and learning, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that having students create work is a much more meaningful use of their time. Thus, we have been striving to find apps that allow for more creation rather than remembering.

Evernote is just one of those apps. Grade 3 students have been using it to complete reading responses on books from their literature circles. We wanted students to be able to easily read other reading responses on "notes" that they created and respond to them. Much like a blog or Google Doc to create a shared discussion. Finally, after hours of persevering, we figured out that notebooks on Evernote are actually like folders. We created a new notebook for each student and ensured that they tagged their posts with their name. Students could immediately search for those notebooks and tags, read what they wrote and respond to it. A perfect way to collaborate on their learning! Here is an example of what they came up with:

While the challenge is to make it easier to see who wrote what, we will use color codes in the future to make this easier. Within 2 clicks, students could quickly read each other's reading responses. It was simple for the teacher to manage these posts because they came up immediately on his laptop computer.

We are now going to explore using voice notes as a way to differentiate these tasks.

Going deeper into learning

After a busy couple of weeks managing the logistics of putting the ipod touches into place including synching, downloading audiobooks and podcasts, we are now looking at how the touches can start to improve learning in a meaningful way.
Both Mr. Cross and I were looking at ways to go beyond the simple "math games" apps. We are looking for ways to transform learning. Both of us have used technology in ways with authentic purposes and moving from using technology for simple drill and practice to creating a learning environment which students regularly engage in activities that would have been impossible without technology (or at least very difficult). There is a fabulous Technology Integration Matrix here that helps illustrate our point(see image below)

A good example of transformative learning experience using an iPod Touch app is Evernote.

Mr. Cross had a great idea of students making text and voice notes about a book they are reading. Students would then tag there posts with their name and since all students had the same Evernote account, these notes would then appear on their iPod Touch. Students could read their notes and add to what their partner put (much the same as Google Docs). All these notes could be organized on a laptop and then uploaded to his class blog. Could this have been done without this technology? Maybe. It certainly wouldn't have been as interactive nor would the teacher have a digital record of this.

So what other ideas are we working on? The Grade 3 class will be starting a unit on the Solar System so using the iMovie app, students will be making "Captain's Log" (ala Star Trek) entries into iMovie, editing them and publishing them. Alas, I cannot take credit for this idea...this was all Mr. Cross!