20+ ways to creatively check in on students’ science understandings lisa borgerding kent state...

20+ Ways to Creatively Check In on Students’ Science UnderstandingsLisa Borgerding Kent State University ldonnell@kent.eduTessa Young Glen Oak High School youngt@plainlocal.orgJuliet Perry Holy Name High School jperry@holynamehs.comTaylor Schildhouse Newbury High School tschildhouse@newburyschools.org Diane Smith Glen Oak High School djsmith5@kent.edu

Types of AssessmentTypes of Assessment

Entrance SlipsEntrance Slips

Prompt students to think about what they Prompt students to think about what they learned the previous classlearned the previous class

Entrance Slip Name_____

What was the main topic we learned about yesterday?

What are 2 more things you remember?

Quick QuizQuick QuizMaking quick quizzesMaking quick quizzes

1)1) Quick quizzes should be Quick quizzes should be short (5–8 questions).short (5–8 questions).

2)2) Don’t crowd the test to Don’t crowd the test to save paper. save paper.

3)3) Use visuals and concept Use visuals and concept maps if appropriate.maps if appropriate.

4)4) Use words from higher Use words from higher levels of thinking such as levels of thinking such as compare, explain, infer, compare, explain, infer, classify, contrast, apply, classify, contrast, apply, predict, predict, and and estimate estimate

5)5) Make it easy to grade.Make it easy to grade.

6)6) Make multiple versions.Make multiple versions.

Clip Art PromptsClip Art Prompts

In a paragraph, In a paragraph, describe how this describe how this picture is related to picture is related to what we’ve been what we’ve been studying.studying.

Visual Formative Visual Formative AssessmentsAssessments

Provide a Provide a template template and and optionsoptions

CartoonsCartoons

How does this picture illustrate somethingwe have been learning about?

Comic Comic StripsStrips

Useful in telling Useful in telling a story when a story when there are many there are many steps.steps.

Example: Example: photosynthesisphotosynthesis

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/319/0/f/photosynthesis_with_leaf_boy_by_mackdoodle99-d5l48z6.jpg

Comic Comic StripsStrips

Useful for comparing and Useful for comparing and contrasting items, especially in contrasting items, especially in sets of threessets of threes

Brings out misconceptions that Brings out misconceptions that you may not have even you may not have even thought of.thought of.

Demonstrates learning at Demonstrates learning at lower and higher orders of lower and higher orders of thinkingthinking

http://cdn.vectorstock.com/i/composite/58,30/speech-bubble-vector-805830.jpg

Example 1 – Plate Boundaries

Result – Student gets it!

Gets it!

Misconception to address: Thinks that one boundary can be divergent, convergent, and transform in the same place.

Gets it!

Example 2 – Three Ways to Transfer Heat, Plate Boundaries

Example 3 – Chemical Bonds

Result – Student is very creative! But need a little more info.

Free Printable Comic Strip Free Printable Comic Strip TemplatesTemplates

http://donnayoung.org/art/comics.htmhttp://donnayoung.org/art/comics.htm

Technology ExtensionsTechnology Extensions Create science Create science

memes online - memes online - http://memegeneratohttp://memegenerator.net/r.net/

Create online comics Create online comics – – http://www.makebelihttp://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comixefscomix.com/Comix//

Hot House InterviewsHot House Interviews

Scientists never smile.

Card SortsCard Sorts

Card sorts let students express their viewsCard sorts let students express their views

Scientists are curious.

Scientists work together.

Scientists never smile.

Scientists are not creative.

Scientists keep good records.

Scientists are curious.

Graphic OrganizersGraphic Organizers

Get students to Get students to organize thoughts organize thoughts visuallyvisually

Book definition Your definition

Example it is Example it isn’t

Short Circuit

Formative Assessment Probes: Formative Assessment Probes: Two-Tiered TasksTwo-Tiered Tasks

More 2-Tiered More 2-Tiered TasksTasks

Formative Assessment Probes: Is It Formative Assessment Probes: Is It A (Concept)?A (Concept)?

Formative Assessment Probes: Formative Assessment Probes: ConversationsConversations

Make Make conversations conversations where where characters say characters say common common misconceptions misconceptions and scientific and scientific conceptions. conceptions.

Ask students to Ask students to say which say which student(s) they student(s) they agree with and agree with and why.why.

Formative Assessment Probes: Formative Assessment Probes: More…LessMore…Less

Students encounter Students encounter many everyday many everyday situations in which situations in which objects or materials are objects or materials are of different sizes.of different sizes.

They have to determine They have to determine the effect of size on the the effect of size on the behavior or properties behavior or properties of that object or of that object or material. material.

““More A–More B” is a More A–More B” is a basic, intuitive logical basic, intuitive logical scheme children use to scheme children use to figure out these figure out these relationships.relationships.

StructuredStructured

Directions & Directions & materials are materials are spelled out.spelled out.

Open-EndedOpen-Ended Students Students

have to have to design a design a procedure procedure themselves.themselves.

My Best Guess Graphic OrganizerMy Best Guess Graphic Organizer

What I What I knowknow

ActionAction Possible Possible

ResultsResults ResultsResults ReflectionReflection

Checklist for Checklist for Performance Performance AssessmentAssessment

GamesGames Newton’s Law bingo &

Electron configuration bingo

Easter Egg Hunt for balancing equations

PlayPlay

Periodic Table Beach Ball

Facebook PageFacebook Page

Make a facebook page for an element or a Make a facebook page for an element or a scientistscientist

Self- Assessment – Self- Assessment – Sink, Tread, or Sink, Tread, or SwimSwim

Self-Assessment – Self-Assessment – EMCEMC

Self-Assessment – Study HabitsSelf-Assessment – Study Habits

Noting What I’ve Learned Graphic Noting What I’ve Learned Graphic OrganizerOrganizer

Main ideas/ Key Main ideas/ Key Words/ Words/ QuestionsQuestions

What I’ve What I’ve LearnedLearned

Draw-Teach-Draw-ReflectDraw-Teach-Draw-Reflect

Prompt students to draw a concept, teach about Prompt students to draw a concept, teach about that concept, have them draw it again and reflect that concept, have them draw it again and reflect on the changes.on the changes.

Photograph InterviewPhotograph InterviewQuestions to ask:Questions to ask: What were you doing What were you doing

when this picture was when this picture was taken?taken?

What did you learn?What did you learn? Why did you remember Why did you remember

what you remembered?what you remembered? What more have you What more have you

learned about the topic learned about the topic since the day of this since the day of this picture?picture?

How did you use what How did you use what you learned?you learned?

What would you do What would you do differently next time?differently next time?

Take a picture Take a picture whilewhile students work. students work. Print it off a week later…Print it off a week later…

KahootKahoot

KahootKahoot

KahootKahoot

iXplainiXplain Explaining made easy iXplain is a screencasting app for recording a lesson, a presentation, or to explain iXplain is a screencasting app for recording a lesson, a presentation, or to explain

something to family or friends. It records your voice and pen at the same time, something to family or friends. It records your voice and pen at the same time, and you can use images to annotate on them. It creates a mp4 video file which and you can use images to annotate on them. It creates a mp4 video file which can be easily shared through email, upload to Facebook, YouTube or other social can be easily shared through email, upload to Facebook, YouTube or other social media.media.

iXplain is available in the iXplain is available in the Windows StoreWindows Store:: Quick recordingQuick recording You can create a You can create a quick recording quick recording where you immediately start recording voice where you immediately start recording voice

and drawing. This way you can explain something very quickly. If you are not and drawing. This way you can explain something very quickly. If you are not happy with the result, you just start over again.happy with the result, you just start over again.

Base recordingBase recording The other option is to create a recording in two steps. First you create a The other option is to create a recording in two steps. First you create a base base

recording recording with only the drawing. In the second step you record voice and with only the drawing. In the second step you record voice and annotations based on the drawing done in the first step. This is a good option if annotations based on the drawing done in the first step. This is a good option if the drawing is complex or if you want to plan the recording well. If you are not the drawing is complex or if you want to plan the recording well. If you are not happy with the result, you can then record your voice another time, without happy with the result, you can then record your voice another time, without having to draw again.having to draw again.

MP4 filesMP4 files When you have recorded something, it can be When you have recorded something, it can be exportedexported into mp4 video files.  into mp4 video files.

Because the video files are in the common mp4 format they can be easily shared Because the video files are in the common mp4 format they can be easily shared and viewed by people with different computers, tablets, or phones. Through the and viewed by people with different computers, tablets, or phones. Through the share charm in the app, you can share these by mail, upload to YouTube or share charm in the app, you can share these by mail, upload to YouTube or Facebook.Facebook.