Literacy Tool Web Modeling

Literacy Tool Web Modeling Blog Post Chosen Literacy Tool: GoFormative Basics Formative is a web-based tool that teachers can use to assess student progress. After creating an account, the teacher can either create a new assessment from scratch or select a pre-made assessment by grade level and subject matter. In the screenshot below, you can see the formatives I selected on the left column next to a grid of my courses on the right.

The tool is personalized for each student, as the teacher can either give students an access code or upload students from Google Classroom. Unlike other web-based assessment tools, like Kahoot, students have an account and can track their progress in meeting the standards through the various assessments. The picture below shows how easy it was to upload my classes from Google Classroom.

When my students take an assessment, I can track each child’s progress using the tools embedded in the Formative app. The screenshot below shows how to select and assign work to specific classes from Google Classroom.

Literacy Tools Supported by this App In science, it is important for students to interpret and defend statements while using highly technical terms to prove their point. In doing so, students may have to use multimodal methods to research and defend their responses. The Formative app allows teachers to assign assessments in which students can respond in many different ways, such as traditional multiple choice, or they may draw a picture to illustrate what they know about the topic. For example, if a teacher asks for the radius of a circle, students can draw their response in the space provided. Once the answers have been submitted, the teacher can use a scale to evaluate their responses, and all scores are stored within the app so that growth over time can be measured. Differentiation (content, product or process) I could use the app to differentiate among my students’ individual preferences on topics and learning styles by using Formative to assign and evaluate student interest surveys. The app also allows for a variety of modalities to express knowledge, such as written, oral, and visual activities and assignments. I can use Formative to set up folders of content for my classes and can differentiate by assigning different items to different classes (if they are leveled) and allowing students to work through the material at their own pace. By reviewing the data I collect on the Formative app, I can differentiate my instruction based on what concepts or skills each student has mastered. Examples In examining several product reviews, it looked like many teachers like the Formative app and use it in a variety of ways in their classrooms. One social studies teacher uses Formative for admit/exit tickets because it helps her stay organized and grade their work more quickly. A science teacher uses the app mid-lesson to assess her students’ understanding of parallel and series circuits by having them draw their responses in the Formative app. Another teacher creates small quizzes on Formative to assess students’ understanding of adaptations in her evolution unit. I created a short exit ticket for the characteristics of life lesson in my 7th grade life science classes. It was easy to use the tools on the screen of the Formative app to create one of each of the following question types: fill-in-the-black, drawing, and short answer question. As the teacher, I can type in correct responses and also select which NGSS standards are being address from a drop-down menu. Pros and Cons Overall, apps are innovative educational tools that help students engage with the content. “Apps have a number of advantages, including one-click installation, accessibility, and instant updates” (McLaughlin 2015). Pros: • Free* (not really, see below) • Students can have instant feedback on their mastery of the content. (Teacher can control what is revealed to students and when.) • Students can respond to some questions by drawing their answers and teachers can assign video content. Cons: • The more I explored the app, I saw that many features are reserved for those teachers who pay $10/month for premium service. Here is a list of everything that is only included with a ‘premium’ membership. References: Formative - Product Reviews. (n.d.). Retrieved June 14, 2018, from https://www.edsurge.com/product-reviews/formative Go Formative. (n.d.). Retrieved June 14, 2018, from https://goformative.com/ McLaughlin, M. (2015) Content Area Reading: Teaching and Learning for College and Career Readiness. 2nd Ed. Pearson. Boston, MA.