Formative and summative assessment are big buzzwords these days. These tools will help break up a lesson, check for understanding, and even track data simply and easily.
PowerSchool (previously Interactive Achievement): If your school district has a log in, this is a great tool for making assessments using others' questions or your own. You can check how the students improve on the same standard, print out tests & scan the results, or have them take the tests online.
Kahoot: This is a fun, free quiz tool if your students have access to wireless devices. You create an account at getkahoot.com and either create your own quiz or borrow someone elses. Then have students go to http://kahoot.it . You post your kahoot on the board, and tell it to launch. A code will appear on the board. Students enter that code on their devices to join the quiz. When they've all joined & entered their names (keep an eye on the names they create!) start up the quiz. It automatically grades them & ranks the top few scorers. Students get a kick out of it! Although there is a competitive aspect and a timer countdown, students like that there is always a picture (that you provide or let it provide) and it only shows one question at a time. You can also decide how long the timer is when you create each question. It's a good idea to have one with longer times for special ed or ELL students, and a separate one with shorter times for honors students.
Plickers: Students like this free tool (picture above), plus you get quick formative results easily. Create a free account, download the app on your phone/tablet and write up some multiple choice or true/false questions. Then print out a set of 'plickers' for each class. Each student is assigned a number & takes a plicker. It's basically their personal QR code. I have students tape it to the back of their workbook. You show the plicker LiveView question up on the board, and they rotate their plicker code to indicate what they think the answer is. You then open the app & scan the room with your phone/tablet camera. [This sounds complicated, but really isn't. You can insert a question or two in every class to mix things up and get immediate feedback on their understanding!]
Quizizz: This is my new favorite online quiz program! Create your own questions, or borrow ones that others made. You can even add pictures, either from your own computer or online. Then either do a live quiz in class, or assign it as homework! I typically make one to review for a test, then give them the code to do for homework. They log in later to http://join.quizizz.com and enter the code. Then they take the quiz and I see their scores. After each question is a cute meme, which adds a little humor. Now you can even pick a theme for the memes - like Villians & Heroes. You can select whether or not the questions are timed, to help those who get stressed in timed situations.
Quizlet: Great free tool for vocabulary practice. Students can play games with them, print out flashcards, practice spelling, or quiz themselves. I like opening the ScatterGame in class on the Promethean board and having students take turns playing as a review before tests or whenever there's free time. Good extra practice for those with lower reading skills.
QuizStar: Make an account for free, then you can invite students to take quizzes online. You can create different classes and view reports. You can even schedule when a quiz is open. Students do not need an email address for this - they just make up a username and password. You'll be able to see all their usernames & passwords to help them if they get logged out.
QR Code Quizmaker: Make a scavenger hunt quiz! This free site allows you to make a quiz online, then printout codes to paste ANYWHERE. Students can search for the codes, scan with their phone app, and answer the quiz question. I laminated them & posted them around the school grounds, then gave students GPS coordinates to find them to practice their navigation skills.
SignUpGenius: Free tool that allows you to make online signup sheets. I used it for event planning & volunteer signups all the time. Email or text the link out, then students can sign up for timeslots or to donate specific items. It tracks it all for you. All you have to do is tell it how many people you want in a slot or how many of each item you want donated.
Socrative: Free app that students can download on their phones. You set up a quiz in your free online account & give them the address of your 'room' so they can log in. During class, start the quiz. You can set it to have students take the quiz at their own pace or have everyone in the room move at your pace. You can see/post results live on your computer. A great option for in-class formative assessment that you don't have to score!
SurveyMonkey: Make a poll simply & easily. I only used the free version, but had no trouble getting student input on seating charts, ideas for prom theme, and asking students/parents how they enjoyed the flipped classroom. You can ask multiple choice questions, or get short answers.
Kahoot: This is a fun, free quiz tool if your students have access to wireless devices. You create an account at getkahoot.com and either create your own quiz or borrow someone elses. Then have students go to http://kahoot.it . You post your kahoot on the board, and tell it to launch. A code will appear on the board. Students enter that code on their devices to join the quiz. When they've all joined & entered their names (keep an eye on the names they create!) start up the quiz. It automatically grades them & ranks the top few scorers. Students get a kick out of it! Although there is a competitive aspect and a timer countdown, students like that there is always a picture (that you provide or let it provide) and it only shows one question at a time. You can also decide how long the timer is when you create each question. It's a good idea to have one with longer times for special ed or ELL students, and a separate one with shorter times for honors students.
Plickers: Students like this free tool (picture above), plus you get quick formative results easily. Create a free account, download the app on your phone/tablet and write up some multiple choice or true/false questions. Then print out a set of 'plickers' for each class. Each student is assigned a number & takes a plicker. It's basically their personal QR code. I have students tape it to the back of their workbook. You show the plicker LiveView question up on the board, and they rotate their plicker code to indicate what they think the answer is. You then open the app & scan the room with your phone/tablet camera. [This sounds complicated, but really isn't. You can insert a question or two in every class to mix things up and get immediate feedback on their understanding!]
Quizizz: This is my new favorite online quiz program! Create your own questions, or borrow ones that others made. You can even add pictures, either from your own computer or online. Then either do a live quiz in class, or assign it as homework! I typically make one to review for a test, then give them the code to do for homework. They log in later to http://join.quizizz.com and enter the code. Then they take the quiz and I see their scores. After each question is a cute meme, which adds a little humor. Now you can even pick a theme for the memes - like Villians & Heroes. You can select whether or not the questions are timed, to help those who get stressed in timed situations.
Quizlet: Great free tool for vocabulary practice. Students can play games with them, print out flashcards, practice spelling, or quiz themselves. I like opening the ScatterGame in class on the Promethean board and having students take turns playing as a review before tests or whenever there's free time. Good extra practice for those with lower reading skills.
QuizStar: Make an account for free, then you can invite students to take quizzes online. You can create different classes and view reports. You can even schedule when a quiz is open. Students do not need an email address for this - they just make up a username and password. You'll be able to see all their usernames & passwords to help them if they get logged out.
QR Code Quizmaker: Make a scavenger hunt quiz! This free site allows you to make a quiz online, then printout codes to paste ANYWHERE. Students can search for the codes, scan with their phone app, and answer the quiz question. I laminated them & posted them around the school grounds, then gave students GPS coordinates to find them to practice their navigation skills.
SignUpGenius: Free tool that allows you to make online signup sheets. I used it for event planning & volunteer signups all the time. Email or text the link out, then students can sign up for timeslots or to donate specific items. It tracks it all for you. All you have to do is tell it how many people you want in a slot or how many of each item you want donated.
Socrative: Free app that students can download on their phones. You set up a quiz in your free online account & give them the address of your 'room' so they can log in. During class, start the quiz. You can set it to have students take the quiz at their own pace or have everyone in the room move at your pace. You can see/post results live on your computer. A great option for in-class formative assessment that you don't have to score!
SurveyMonkey: Make a poll simply & easily. I only used the free version, but had no trouble getting student input on seating charts, ideas for prom theme, and asking students/parents how they enjoyed the flipped classroom. You can ask multiple choice questions, or get short answers.