Kahoot or Quizizz - Game Based Classroom Response Systems

These two free, device neutral, online resources are sure to bring high engagement and active participation into any classroom.  The idea is simple, students answer questions in a competitive atmosphere, there will be a winner.

For both Kahoot and Quizizz, the facilitator creates a series of questions to be answered by the participants.  Each question can have a time limit before the participant must select a response.  The quicker the participant chooses a response, the more points they earn providing their choice was correct.

Using Kahoot, the questions are asked to the participants one at a time.  Participants view the projected screen, answer a question by selecting the corresponding color on their device, points are awarded, and a new question is provided.  When finished, persons with the most points will be displayed.

Using Quizizz, the facilitator starts the activity at which time participants are given questions in a random order.  The participants read the questions on their device and answer them at their own pace.  Once all participants complete the activity, persons with the most points will be displayed.


Quizizz would be a great tool to use for an entire class, or as a center since it is student driven.  Kahoot is teacher driven providing time for discussion between each question being asked.

I've tried using both resources with groups of at least 40, and each time they worked fine.

Both Kahoot and Quizizz allows teachers to create their own questions, which can include images. When finished with the activity, the teacher can save the data describing how students answered each question. Teachers can explore through the many public assessments created and shared by others.

In either case, these opportunities provide a nice review experience or possibly a motivating pre-assessment experience.  Definitely stated, the experience will be fun, highly energetic, and competitive.

CC Quest and Open Ed

We are always looking for ways to help prepare students and assist teachers not only for the shifts of the Common Core but also the increase of depth of knowledge levels and tech skills needed for the Smarter Balanced Assessment.  Using technology as a tool in the classroom has so many benefits, but in the case of the new assessments students will be taking this spring, the skills associated with how to use technology correctly could pose a problem for many of our students who do not have regular access within their regular curriculum.  From tech skills to questioning styles, rethinking how you traditionally assess your students will benefit them in more ways than one!

An easy way to do common core aligned quick checks for specific standards is using apps or sites such as Common Core Quest from Open Ed (app for iPad and Android).  CC Quest could be used in isolation or along with the main Open Ed website.  Open Ed is a classroom resource library of lessons, activities, videos, etc all aligned to the CCSS.   The app can be used as a stand alone.  Students would need to log in with their school google account, they can choose their grade level and either Math or ELA.  From there, each standard has a quick 3 to 5 problem quiz that assess their mastery of the standard.  If they do not do well, the app will suggest sites or videos to visit to continue practicing that skill.  This would be a great way for students to check mastery, as well as many questions have multiple parts, similar to the Smarter Balanced Assessment.

As a teacher, you can log in and create an account at Open Ed.  From there you are able to enter in students and establish usernames and passwords for them, especially for young students or students in districts were email use is not allowed.  Adding students into a class in the website will also allow for the teacher to monitor which standards students have taken and how they have done.  More features on the website include lessons and resources aligned to the standards that teachers can assign to the class.  Most resources are open source (free access) though there are also lesson and activities from some paid subscription sites.

It's worth the time to explore!

Classflow - an Engaging Presentation Tool

Imagine presenting to your students a typical PowerPoint or Prezi.  You have a great presentation planned with images illustrating key ideas instead of a screen filled with text.  However, this presentation is still in the form students watch while teachers present. 




What if you can push individual slides of a presentation to student devices, so those sitting in the back row who forgot their glasses aren't squinting to see the slide?  Those that are losing attention because they are looking over a half dozen other students, can now maintain focus because the material is 6-12 inches in front of them.

And what if students could respond back by adding content to an existing slide, in which the instructor obtains x number of alternative results from students and can select which slide or slides to display in front of the class.

Classflow is a free online tool allowing teachers to have engaging presentations with their students.



Some of you are asking, but "Nearpod" does that already.  Correct, this is very similar to Nearpod.  One difference is Classflow also integrates with an existing Interactive Whiteboard, the Active Inspire or Promethean environment.

First step is to create your free online teacher account at Classflow.

If you are an Active Inspire user, give your students the class code and have them join your Classflow session.  Students can join using the Classflow Student app or connecting through classflow.com/student. 

Start by pushing out flipchart pages to student devices with a click of a button inside the software.

When you want the two way engagement piece you'll need to toggle over to the Classflow website.  Send students a slide in "Ad-hoc mode", which keeps your students in the same class as they are when you're using Classflow inside Inspire.

With the Classflow Student app, students can use pens, shapes, text, and even add images from the camera or their photo album.

As a teacher, you also have the traditional student response opportunities like multiple choice, text, numeric, and true false for questioning the class.

Another nice student response feature is the Word Seed.  Great for brainstorming ideas with your students as they enter in their text response, and words are placed in a circle around the slide as they send in their results.


Once you begin using Classflow, look into more advanced features like integrating Active Expression or assessment activities, or individualizing content by providing students with web links and videos during a lesson.

If you do choose to use the web based Classflow presentation platform, you can upload existing Promethean Flipchart or SmartBoard Notebook presentations.

Classflow is a program that may take some time learning, so be sure to check out the Classflow Youtube Channel.

Virtually Visit the Smithsonian on the iPad!

The online virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has always been a favorite resource of mine for the classroom.  Students can virtually take a field trip and tour the many displays in 360 views of different areas of the museum.  There is now a mobile friendly version of this site that has made this site possible on the mobile devices, both iOS and Android.  

Choose the gallery that you would like to visit from the list.  Each gallery is full of many rooms. Geology, Egyptian mummies, mammals, the Ice Age, fossils.... just to name a few! 

Inside each room your can use your finger to move in all directions and zoom in closer on displays.  Tap on the images along the bottom to move, or use the arrows on the iPad to move to the next room. 

This is a mobile friendly website, not an app.  To save it to your iPad for easy access by students, add the address to the Home Screen.  

iPads Integrated into Math

GTKY - piccollage
SAMR/Flipped Classroom Discussion

Common Core Standards Initiative - Math

Objective: To be exposed to a few ideas and apps in several different implementation strategies using an iPad in a Math Class.


Using iPads to get immediate feedback from students

• InfuseLearning 

iPad compatible online resources, with teacher student reported data

• XtraMath (Mathfacts website)
• Happy  Numbers (Number Sense and Algorithm Practice)
• Manga High Math (Math Practice based on CCSS)
• Slader Math or Slader iTunes App (Check your textbook based math homework problems)  

Intervention, Drill and Practice Apps: The app will provide you with feedback

• Flash to Pass - Math Fact Practice
• Loot Pursuit or LP Talum - Middle School Math Concept Practice
• Common Core Concepts - Review of common core concepts
• ClockMaster - review clock basics
• Math Millionaire - An online site to review math skills, 3rd on up  

Apps With a Problem Solving Twist

• DeepSea Dual
• This=That
• 5Dice

Online Video Libraries: Online videos, some also pair with practice

• Khan Academy
• Hippocampus
• Math TV

Manipulatives and Online Tools Apps: The app allows for exploration, generally no feedback

• Geoboard
• Number Pieces Basic
• MyScript Calculator - a scribble interpretive calculator
• Fluid Math Free
• m.wolframalpha.com 
• Geogebra   http://www.geogebratube.org/
• Geometry Pad

Creating and Showing Work Apps: Screen casting or using an app to broadcast to class

• Educreation
• 30hands  
• BaiBoard
  

QR Code Integration into Math

• QR code Math Problems 
• QR Code Reader : I-nigma 
• For Chromebooks:  ScanQR app
• QR code generator
• QR Code implementation guide from Cool Cat

Teacher Resources

• K-5 Math Teaching Resources
• Mathematics Assessment Resource Service (MARS) Tasks
• Math Maven Mysteries
• Yummy Math 
• Edmodo community - use a free teacher account to gain access

App reviews and more from iDevice in the Mtns 

Apps from EdTechTeacher

Tech Links from IMESD

Apps to Celebrate Computer Science Week Dec 9 - 13

Next week is Computer Science Week and it's a great time to introduce coding and programming to your students.  Code.org is recruiting classrooms around the country to participate in an hour of coding next week with their Hour of Code.    Check out the great programs, computer science statistics, and lessons for teachers to use on this site.  There are also some great apps for the iPads to introduce students to the concept of programming.

Kodable  
Free app that would be great for introducing students of any age to the basics of programming with drag and drop features.  No reading required, collect cute little fuzz ball characters, and work through the first section with over 35 levels to master.  Purchase additional levels for $1.99 or go Pro with the app for $6.99.  




Daisy the Dinosaur 
Free basic app for beginning elementary coders.  Students must be able to read to follow the instructions for the challenges.  Drag and drop format to make Daisy do what is needed. 


Hopscotch
Free app based on MIT's Scratch program.  This is also drag and drop with a great free play atmosphere allowing students to program their characters to move, draw lines, add words, and respond to movements of the iPad.  One of the top rated apps, and a great way to allow students to create!




Light-Bot, Lite (Free), Hour of Code(Free)
There are three versions of this app, for the Hour of Code there are 18 different challenges for the students.    There is an additional lite version of the app as well as a pro version available. 



Have students work together to problem solve and achieve a common goal, helping the grow in their problem solving skills, collaboration, and perseverance.  You may have the next great computer programmer in your room right now!

Jan Cuny

Program Officer, National Science Foundation

“All of today’s kids will need—along with reading, writing, and arithmetic—a basic understanding of computation and the role that it plays across a wide range of disciplines. Coding is engaging and empowering. It’s a necessary 21st Century skill.“

(from Code.org)