As teachers, we're
always looking for ways to make sure our students are on track. We wonder
things like "Is everyone getting this?" or "Do I need to review
a bit more before moving on?" Enter Plickers...a free and easy-to-use
hybrid of QR codes and response devices. The nice part about Plickers is that
the only technology you need is a single classroom computer and a single mobile
device.
According to 5th
grade teacher Shannon Eckels, who recently started using Plickers in her
classroom, “It’s a fun way to use technology as a formative assessment. My
students love getting out their Plicker cards and getting scanned to see if
they’re right. It is also super easy for the teacher to add questions quickly.”
Plickers is similar to handheld clicker systems
some of you may be familiar with. This is where students respond to multiple
choice questions by clicking the letter of the correct answer, and the
resulting data is displayed for the teacher. With Plickers, there is no
need for the expensive devices. Each student is assigned a Plickers card with a
unique pattern, and he or she uses the same response card all year to answer
questions asked by the teacher. The students respond to a question by holding
up their cards, and the teacher scans the cards with a mobile device (smartphone, iPad, etc.). The
results appear instantly for the teacher to view.
To
understand how it works, take a look at the sample Plickers card below. The
number on each side is the number assigned to the student in the system and
each card has its own unique pattern that the system recognizes. Students
respond to Plickers questions by holding up their cards and rotating them so
that the correct answer is at the top.
The teacher scans the cards all at once by using the camera on a
mobile device and sweeping it around the room. As the system recognizes each
card, the results are displayed instantly on the teacher's mobile device.
You can
download a set of these cards for free from the Plickers website. Laminating
them might be a good idea for durability, but you should laminate one and try
it out first. Sometimes the glare from the plastic can cause problems with
scanning. You'll also need to download the Plickers app on your device either through iTunes, or Google Play.
Teachers can create
a library of questions and correct answers that can be used with any of their
classes. You can display questions in full screen mode from the Plickers
website, or read them aloud to students.
Here
are a few ways you can start using Plickers now:
·
Use Plickers to find out
what your students know about a topic or skill before you introduce that lesson
or unit. You can save a lot of instructional time by determining the
appropriate level of instruction in advance.
·
Plickers can be used as
formative assessment during a lesson. If your students are not grasping the
concepts, it’s far easier reteach those concepts that day rather than to
attempt to correct confusion the next day.
·
After completing a
lesson, assess students with a series of Plickers questions. You can use this
as a type of exit ticket. You can view the results immediately or save them for
later as you plan the next day's lesson to make sure the level of instruction
is appropriate. You'll also know who's going to need extra help.
If you need help getting
started or have any questions, please contact a tech coach! Happy Plickering!
