Students really enjoy using digital assessment tools because it allows them to use technology, which they naturally gravitate towards. Not all assessment needs to be pen and paper. Students really enjoy using online assessment tools because it allows them to use technology.
Digital Assessment Tools
Digital assessment tools are online programs or platforms that allow teachers to create and deliver assessments online. These tools can include quizzes, surveys, games, etc., that can be completed by students using a Chromebook or another digital device. Some popular digital assessment tools include Google Forms, Kahoot, Plickers and Blooket. Using digital assessment tools can save teachers time, increase classroom efficiency, and provide valuable data to inform instruction.
Check out these digital assessment tools when you are planning your next unit.
Plickers
Plickers is an assessment tool that does not require each student to need their own device.
- How To: A teacher sets up a Plickers account and then prints off a class set of answer cards. The teacher asks a question to the class and students respond by turning their answer card in one of the four directions. A quick scan using a smartphone or a tablet captures all of the students’ answers.
- When To Use: This can be used before teaching a new concept to find out the prior knowledge of students or after a lesson to see what they learned.
Kahoot
Kahoot is a quiz show-type method to review concepts or assess students’ prior knowledge.
- How To: Using a class code, students sign into a premade or teacher-created Kahoot using a specific code. Students use their devices to select one of the four answer options.
- When To Use: Kahoot is a really fun way to review content before a test.
Edpuzzle
Edpuzzle allows students to watch teacher-selected videos with embedded questions.
- How To: Ahead of the lesson, teachers set up questions they want students to answer during the video. Students then watch videos and answer the guiding questions from their teacher.
- When To Use: This is a great alternative to a whole class video lesson with paper. It could be used as a station activity or for virtual classes.
Google Classroom
Google Classroom is an online learning management system (LMS). It allows teachers to post announcements, assignments, questions, or post photos.
- How To: Teachers can upload assignments directly into Google Classroom and students complete the assignments and submit them for assessment.
- When To Use: This is a great alternative to pen and paper assignments. I also love to use it as a central hand-in place for students when they are creating digital assignments to avoid having 30+ assignments shared with me in Google Drive.
Blooket
Blooket provides a fun place for online trivia and review games.
- How To: Teachers need to sign up. Blooket is similar to Kahoot, in that kids need to answer questions. However, Blooket is interactive, and often, they can battle, steal, duel, etc., against each other. There are tons of pre-made game questions, like Kahoot. Blooket also doesn’t require you to press “next” after each question. Rather, students have a timer to complete questions (it’s automatically 7 minutes but you can change it). There are also “modes” teachers can choose. For example, Crypto Hack, Tower Defence, Battle Royale, etc. It is similar to Kahoot, but many of the games are not always time-based. Although you certainly still have the opportunity to get a better score the faster you play, students that do not necessarily need to answer the questions fast still have the opportunity to win. This feature is fantastic as it levels the playing field for students. It allows for a greater variety of students to win and they all love to see themselves on the podium.
- When To Use: Much like Kahoot, use it to review content or introduce new content.
GimKit
GimKit is similar to Blooket and Kahoot, in that students answer questions. There is an “Among Us” version though – a popular game that students find it gripping.
- How To: Teachers need to sign up. There is a paid and a free version. The free version is limiting because you can only play with a certain number of players.
- When To Use: Use it to review content or introduce new content.
PearDeck
PearDeck is a Google Chrome extension that allows you to make your slideshows interactive.
- How To: Teachers can add interactive assessments and content into presentations. Teachers can have students build (e.g., draw and guess) vocabulary. They can vote and answer true/false, and yes/no questions.
- When To Use: Students have to sign on with a code (like Kahoot), and they can access the online platform that way. This is a great way to make your lessons more interactive.
Flipgrid
Flipgrid is an online video service that allows students to respond to questions in a quick video format.
- How To: Teachers set up their classroom on the website and give students a code to gain access.
- When To Use: Ask students to respond to a question or questions using video. For students that did not want to show their faces, I would allow them to focus the camera on a book, stuffed animal, or pet or use stickers/emojis to cover their faces. Students can provide book reviews, answer homework questions or continue a class discussion.
Online Bulletin Boards
Padlet and Google Jamboard are online bulletin boards that students and teachers can collaboratively post to.
- How To: Teachers set up the board ahead of time and ask students a question. Then share the link with students.
- When To Use: They are great to use as a pre-reading strategy for any subject to get students thinking and answering discussion questions. It is a way to make your classroom discussions virtual.
Which one of these tools is your favourite? Reach out to me on Instagram and let me know.
Other Technology Resources
- 5 Ways to Differentiate Using Technology
- Use Hyper Docs To Increase Student Engagement
- Online Learning For English Language Arts
- Online Grammar Resources
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