Methods for Collecting Math Formative Assessment Data Digitally
In today's modern classrooms, technology plays a significant role in shaping the learning experience. Teachers are increasingly turning to digital tools to collect formative math assessment data, monitor student progress, identify learning gaps, and assess the classroom environment.
One such tool is Desmos, a popular choice for math teaching and learning. However, there are other digital tools available that cater to various subjects like algebra, economics, geometry, and statistics. For instance, Plickers, GeoGebra, Funexpected Math, Istation, Let’s Go Learn, and Kiddom offer interactive problem-solving, real-time data capture, adaptive learning, and personalized instruction.
Plickers, in particular, is a digital tool that stands out for its unique feature of allowing teachers to create formative assessment questions and collect student responses without requiring technology devices. Students can use dry erase boards or scratch paper to work through problems, and resource spaces can be created for QR codes to lead to alternative questions (hints) for problem-solving. This flexibility allows students to move around the classroom and work more independently or in teams.
QR codes also offer a practical solution for schools with limited or no broadband internet access. They can direct students to platforms like Padlet or Google Docs for problem-solving, and the collected data can still be accessed in the future for review.
Slido is another tool seamlessly embedded into Google Slides presentations, offering a more interactive experience for formative assessment. Meanwhile, Kahoot! offers a more gamified experience, making learning fun and engaging for students.
Polling tools, such as Plickers, are not limited to math assessment data. They can be used during lessons to ask engaging questions and capture formative data across various subjects. For instance, teachers can insert images of household and community items and spaces to create poll questions related to economics and statistics content. Polls with graphs and tables can also be used to ask questions about these subjects.
The use of a variety of poll question types can help gather unique information on students' learning. For example, QR codes can be used for simple and complex math word problems, while polls can be used to assess students' understanding of concepts in a more traditional multiple-choice format.
As the new school year begins, activities such as All About Me boards and Get to Know You questionnaires are being introduced. These activities, along with the use of digital tools for formative assessment, are helping teachers create a dynamic and engaging learning environment that caters to the needs of each student. By choosing technology tools that are accessible to both teacher and students, educators can gather real-time formative assessment data, ensuring that every student's learning journey is on the right track.
