During our recent ICT module, I was introduced to some of the wonders of mobile technology which can be used in teaching and learning, the likes of which have come as a breath of fresh air to me. When I was studying for my undergraduate degree, I didn't have any experience of some of the very effective assessment and engagement applications which would have been of significant benefit to my learning, as well as that of my peers. This is probably due to my faculty (like many others the country over) still being very much in the era of the traditional lecture and seminar structure, although I'm glad to say, that is beginning to change.
Since my introduction to these little gems, I unfortunately
haven't been able to make use of many of them due to the sparsity of equipment
contained in the rooms which had been pre-booked (before my placement began),
but I have used internet detectives with my students as well as 'Mind Reader Dave'. Both flag up the very real dangers
of internet use and as such, were perfect for my learners at that point of
their academic journey. Nonetheless, as my teaching moves forward, I plan
to use each and every one of the applications I'm about to review, this being
possible due to a significant amount of new technology being introduced into
the faculty in which I teach. Indeed, I have been asked by one of the
Programme Directors to hold a training session with the other staff so we may
all begin to use these amazing innovations. As I haven't yet used them
with my students, I'm going to evaluate the application and offer forth some
suggestions as to how they may be used for teaching and learning.
First, lets take a look at applications useful for assessment, these being Socrative, Kahoot and Near Pod . So, Socrative. This is a real-time assessment and student feedback tool that can be used on smart phones, tablets, desk top computers and laptops and allows us to gauge as lecturers whether the student has really grasped the concepts taught in the moment. I can pose a question to the cohort through the software and they may respond, or they may also use it to provide me with near instant feedback on content or anything else that may be appropriate. This is particularly beneficial for us as teachers as it allows us to respond to gaps in knowledge straight away adding to both the teaching and learning experience. Socrative is free to use for both student and faculty and I think it can and will be a prominent tool used in the enhancement of the educational experience moving forward- I certainly look forward to using this for the benefit of my students. Take a look at Socrative, you'll be glad you did!
Kahoot is a game based classroom response system intended to test the knowledge and learning of the students. It differs from Socrative in that it allows the student to research a topic and create and present a quiz in which they may test other learners in the cohort- this idea is fantastic in the sense that learners engage with and learn from each other, in a novel and creative way. It's almost like they get duped into doing the work for themselves! I found that it lacked the professional image in comparison to Socrative but nonetheless, it certainly has a place in the learning experience. I envisage that I may use this toward the end of a module to 'firm up' the learning that has taken place. If you wish to learn more about Kahoot, click here
On to Nearpod. This is a presentation and assessment tool that I perceive as having amazing benefits in the classroom. If you're looking to come away from the teacher at the front of the class using presentation software to a more connected (well, digitally) to the student approach, this is for you. A presentation can be created within Nearpod, and then the student uses a digital code to enter the 'class'. In this way, you may be in amongst the student whilst presenting, as well as being able to decide in real time which parts of the presentation you may like them to see. This allows for a more interactive experience in that you may decide when and how the content is delivered as per the engagement and understanding of the learner (you can skip through parts of the presentation if necessary or use additional content depending upon the situation). Nearpod also has a live and formative assessment tool, so quizzes can be inserted into the presentation and thus the lecturer may access the assessment data 'on the fly'. Indeed, when the learner is engaged in the assessment, a good idea of the cohorts' overall understanding can be gained immediately. Just like Socrative and Kahoot, it can be accessed free online and is a firm contender for the replacement of Powerpoint when the resources allow. Click here to find out more about Nearpod.
On to the engagement application: Padlet. This is an online interactive whiteboard, collaboration, presentation and lesson management system which offers considerable opportunities for teaching and learning. I'm going to evaluate it from an engagement perspective. Many educators find it useful in gleaning the students understanding of the lesson plenary, allowing them to ask questions via the interactive board they may not otherwise verbalise. In any case, it allows students to post up comments as the lesson is taking place which I'm guessing may be a blessing or a curse, depending upon the behaviour of the learners!. Free to use, like the others, Padlet allows learner engagement on a level over and above that of the interactive whiteboard, as this may be constructed from their own device. In a subject area such as Counselling, in which the feelings and emotions of the individual is of significant import, I plan to use Padlet to gauge the thoughts of students in response to specific case studies. The thoughts and feelings posted may then give rise to a whole group discussion.
Look out for my future blogs on mobile technology and how it
worked (or otherwise) with my students!
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