Early in my career, the technology for my review games consisted of flyswatters: Each team was given a flyswatter, and an opponent from those teams would stand on opposite sides of the table and slam down their flyswatter to “buzz in.” These days there are countless online review games, complete with buzzers, questions, scoreboards, and… Read more
Whiteboard.chat I wasn’t going to share another web whiteboard, but I really can’t categorize Whiteboard.chat as just a web whiteboard. It’s a combination of some of the handiest EdTech tools in one platform. It’s also free and doesn’t require users to sign in. Rather than try to describe all of the features, I’m just going… Read more
Student Feedback Made Easy Whether used for formative assessment, exit tickets, or just checking in on student well-being, Loop provides teachers with an easy way to gather actionable student feedback. Teachers can create a free account at loophq.io. Set Up Groups Classes are referred to as groups in Loom. After you have created your first group,… Read more
More Than a Web Whiteboard So much more than a web whiteboard, Whiteboard.fi allows teachers to quickly create a class and view student responses in real-time. No accounts are required, no personal information is collected, and it works on any device. It’s a great tool for active student participation and formative assessment. Create Your Class… Read more
Backchannels in the Classroom 7 Alternatives to TodaysMeet Backchannels in the Classroom Backchannels are a great way to facilitate meaningful classroom discussions that all students can participate in. Perhaps my favorite thing about backchannels is that they give a voice to even the quietest of students who might not participate in a traditional classroom discussion…. Read more
Simple Formative Assessment www.Plickers.com Formative assessment has become easier with the introduction of so many engaging formative apps and websites. I remember my enthusiasm years ago when I got a set of small whiteboards and markers. I passed one out to each student so that they could write their answers and hold them up as I… Read more
Formative GoFormative.com A real-time student response system that allows for formative assessment with quick feedback. It’s free, easy to use, and works on any internet-enabled device. Create Assignments Teachers can create assignments using four question types: Multiple-Choice and True/False options allow for immediate feedback and self-grading; Short Answer questions allow students to type responses; Show Your Work questions… Read more
Socrative www.socrative.com Socrative has become the most common way that I begin and end a class. I can quickly gather feedback, assess understanding, or take a poll with just a few quick clicks. Students can respond from virtually an internet enabled device using a browser or a smartphone app, making it the perfect formative assessment… Read more
Mentimeter Mentimeter.com Mentimeter allows you to use any internet-enabled device as a student response system. Take formative assessment to the next level with an engaging platform. You can use it for polling (and see results in real-time), or open-ended questions (responses limited to 140 characters). More options are available with paid accounts, and Mentimeter offers… Read more
Poll Everywhere www.polleverywhere.com Poll Everywhere is an excellent alternative to expensive student / classroom response systems. The site allows you to poll students or ask them questions that they respond to via web browser, text message, or Twitter. Results are displayed in real time. It’s a perfect tool for formative assessment, and a great must-have in BYOD classrooms…. Read more
