Instructional and Assessment Technology to Prepare for Your Fall Semester
Authors: Samantha Goldman; info@ciddl.org
As we embark on the mission to prepare teachers for teaching in today’s world of online and hybrid learning, it is our role to not only explain concepts and technologies, but model when to use them and how. After all, we can’t expect teachers to know how to teach with tools, without being taught how to do so. This blog will break down instructional and formative assessment technologies into the following categories: literacy (reading), literacy (writing), math, executive functioning, social-emotional, and assessment. When preparing for the fall semester, select and model these technologies to prepare your pre-service teachers to integrate them into their future classrooms.
Literacy (reading)
Technologies for reading support emerging readers, those with print disabilities, and those who simply prefer to learn by listening. Below are several resources that can be used with a brief description.
- Screen Readers
- System Screen Reader - Most computer systems, specifically for Windows operating systems, have an embedded screen reader.
- Microsoft’s Read Aloud - Microsoft’s embedded screen reader.
- Google’s Screen Reader Support - Google’s embedded screen reader.
- iOS Spoken Content - Mac’s embedded screen reader.
- Audiobooks
- BookShare - Restricted to those with print disabilities, this is a great resource for teachers to share with their students as it includes most novels and textbooks.
- Learning Ally - Audiobooks read by real humans. There is a membership fee associated.
- Immersive Reader - Beyond a simple “screen reader,” Microsoft’s Immersive Reader translates, highlights, and offers picture definitions on screen.
- Snap & Read - Don Johnston’s screen reader offers read-aloud technology across platforms including PDFs and Google Drive, which has the ability to “remove distractions,” integrates study tools, and levels text. There is a subscription fee associated.
- Google Read & Write - Texthelp’s read-aloud, speech-to-text, and predictive text tool that offers extras like highlighting, translating, and text simplification. There is a subscription fee associated.
- UPAR - Don Johnston’s assessment tool to help educators determine if students learn best by reading independently, listening to a screen reader, or listening to human voice.
Literacy (writing)
Technologies for writing to support learners with written expression deficits, those with fine motor and executive functioning challenges, and those with other physical and learning disabilities. Below are several resources that can be used with a brief description.
- Speech-to-Text
- Google’s voice typing - Google’s speech-to-text
- iOS Speech - Mac’s speech-to-text
- Microsoft’s Dictate - Microsoft’s speech-to-text
- Predictive Text
- Co: Writer - Don Johnston’s predictive text. There is a subscription fee associated.
- Google’s smart compose - Google’s predictive text.
- Microsoft’s Text Prediction - Microsoft’s predictive text
- Google Read & Write - Texthelp’s read-aloud, speech-to-text, and predictive text tool that offers extras like highlighting, translating, and text simplification. There is a subscription fee associated.
Mathematics
Technologies for math to support learners with learning disabilities. Below are several resources that can be used with a brief description.
- Equatio - A digital math solution.
- Toy Theatre - Interactive online manipulatives
- Photomath - Step-by-step math problem-solving tool.
- Desmos - An algebraic graphic tool.
- Dream2B - Gamified fractions.
Executive Functioning
Tools that focus on organization and time management.
- Forest - A tool to help learners focus.
- Online Timers - Various visual timers.
- Trello - Collaborative bulletin board.
- Classroom Screen - All management tools in one place from timers to volume visuals, to polls, and MORE!
Social Emotional
These are suggestions to increase interaction and use creative ways to gauge how students are feeling. It can be used in higher education courses and brought into PK-12 classrooms.
Assessment
- Socrative - Multiple choice, short answer, true or false, and exit tickets.
- Quizalize - Has a bank of already created standards-aligned questions and quizzes.
- Plickers - Uses QR codes for each student and a teacher's phone or iPad to scan student responses. Each side of the QR code square represents a different multiple choice and true or false answer. Students turn the QR codes with their answers facing up and teachers use their devices to scan the room, providing immediate grading.
- Game-based Formative assessment
- GoFormative - Students are able to “write” on the screen which makes it a great tool for math. Teachers can provide written feedback in real time to help students who are not on the right track or need some motivation.
- PearDeck - Adds an interactive layer to Google slides.
- Nearpod - Provides interactive, game-based activities, videos, and slides with formative assessments all in one.
- Seesaw - Geared towards PK-3. Allows students to paint on the screen, record themselves, and take photos. Instructions can be visual and the teacher can record themselves. Benefits to online assessment include the ability to differentiate for learners, provide immediate or more timely feedback, and embedded dashboards for data analysis and data walks.
- GoReact - Perfect for providing feedback and reflection to pre-service teachers on recorded video lessons.
Wrapping It All Up
These are just a sampling of the variety of tools that exist to support students with and without disabilities and pre-service teachers. Pick a few tools to bring to your courses this fall. Let us know which you choose and other tools you love in our community!