This week we are featuring Plickers, a unique combination of a web tool and app for your smartphone (app available for android and Apple phones) that allows you to get instant feedback from your students that is very similar to using clicker response sets.
To get started, go to www.plickers.com and click on "Sign Up". You will also need to download the app for your smartphone (the homepage has links to the app in the AppStore and Google Play).
Create your free account.
From the main screen you can click on Library to add questions, Reports to view data from your class, Classes to add students and classes, and LiveView to see how students are responding. You can also click on Cards to view and print the response cards.
Let's start by adding a class. Click on the + sign.
Enter your basic class info.
Then enter your student names. Press enter after each student name to create the student.
Now you are ready to print a set of response cards. Click on "Cards" in the top left corner.
In addition to the standard card set, you can also print large font cards which work great for elementary students.
Next you are ready to ask questions! Click on "Library" in the top right corner and enter your question (you can also create questions in the smartphone app).
Once you have entered at least one question, you are ready for students to respond. Make sure you have downloaded the Plickers app to your smartphone and have distributed the answer cards to your students (in the correct order...student 1 gets card 1).
Have your students hold up the cards with their answer choice. Then open the Plickers app on your phone and tap the selected class and click on the + icon to either open the library or create a question on the app.
Once the question loads on the app, tap on plan it. You should now see the question on the app along with your student list. Click on the camera icon to scan your students responses. It is important for all student response cards to be visible in the picture.
Student results are instantly available in the app and under the "Reports" section of the website. You can filter reports by class and click on each question on the website for an analysis of student answers.
It may take students a few practice questions to get used to holding the response card correctly and for you to quickly scan all the answers. However within a few minutes everyone should be comfortable using this easy and free response system!
Questions or Comments?
Please email me at: pamelabatchelor@johnston.k12.nc.us