Technology Improves Immediate Feedback Opportunities.

  All those years ago, before technology, students usually had to wait a while before teachers graded and returned student work.  By the time it was returned a student could have learned to do it wrong and never recover from it.

Technology offers a chance for teachers to provide a more immediate feedback.  First of all, its important to know that feed back should be immediate, be specific and targeted, relevant while initiating deeper thought, and should be well-timed.

Immediate feedback makes it much more likely for the student to pay attention to what they are learning rather than seeing each assignment as something irrelevant.  In addition, immediate feedback can increase engagement while supporting student learning goals.

Some of the types of technology that provide immediate feedback include:

1. Quizzes via IXL, computer based program or other app can show the student how a problem should be worked if they make a mistake.  They don't have to wait for you to correct the quiz because the program does it.

2.  Use games to provide immediate feedback such as in Jeopardy, Kahoot, or Cool Math Games, etc where students play games testing their knowledge and they get immediate feedback.  I use Jeopardy a fair bit in class but with several adjustments.
        a.  I allow students to divide up into groups of two.
        b.  Each group has some sort of whiteboard they can record their answers on.
        c.  They must work together to find the answer.
        d.  I award points to every group who has the correct answer.  At first I'd award points to  
             whomever had the first correct answer but it was always the same ones who got in first with
             the correct answer so I changed that.
        e. I talk about how it should have been done or work it out if most people missed it.

3.  Use whiteboards so students can do problems on the boards, hold them up, and I do a spot check to see if they got it right.  I usually draw a smiley face to indicate it is correct or a frowny face for try again.

4.  Of course there is the frequent monitoring when they are doing the work themselves.  I've been know to suggest they check their signs or quietly point to line before moving on so they know where to look.

5.  Sometimes I assign a moderated movie from Edpuzzle with quizzes or short answers integrated into the clip.  The program allows me to check answers and send immediate feedback.

6.  Last but not least is Google with docs, forms, or slides which allow you to incorporate comments with immediate feedback to them.

Its the truly immediate feedback that helps students learn the material better. Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear and remember, these are not the only technology based items that provide feedback.  There are so many more.

Have a great weekend.