Checking for understanding for all students is critical in virtual learning. However, a child that has an identified weakness processing information that requires a check for understanding SDI, virtual learning can seem impossible without thoughtful, efficient, and well executed checks for understanding. Appropriately fulfilling this SDI will require teacher planning and investment in learning new tools.
There are three areas in which a student will need to have their understanding checked:
Does the student understand the directions?
Does the student understand the material being taught?
Does the student understand the feedback that they are receiving?
In addition, there are three strategies for assessing student understanding:
Front Loaded Check: teacher will develop an assessment that quickly checks for understanding and have it developed and uploaded before the module is accessible to student
Real Time Check: teacher will communicate with student in real time to determine if student has a mastery understanding of the information
Back Loaded Check: teacher will determine through the action or inaction of the student if understanding is obtained and modify instruction after the assessment is made to determine further instruction often resulting in additional instructional support with extended time or an alternate assignment
Front loaded checks, while they require more planning and execution, are the most successful strategy for checking for understanding because it notifies the teacher and the student, immediately, that their understanding is not mastered and they will need an intervention to support their understanding before doing any additional work. Real time checks can be successful with the right tool if the teacher and students are working synchronously. Back loaded checks, while easiest for the teacher to develop because they are reactive, is the least successful for students. This strategy requires the student to work without an assurance that they 1) understand what is expected of them and 2) have a mastery understanding of the material to complete the work. Because the intervention occurs after the student has already invested time and effort into doing the work, the student can frustrate easily and trigger past learning traumas that can make any meaningful learning difficult.
Therefore, this module will focus on providing tools that can show teachers how to do front loaded checks and real time checks.
FRONT LOADED CHECKS
There are multiple tools that a teacher can utilize to do a front loaded check.
Quizzes in Canvas: Teachers can create quizzes that can be automatically graded and provide instant feedback to the teacher and the student. Through multiple choice, matching, or true & false questions, teachers can create an assessment that determines if a student understands the directions, content, and teacher feedback. For example, a teacher can provide directions for the day on a content page. Immediately after, the teacher can post a true or false quiz assessing if the student understands what is expected of him or her.
Nearpod: Teachers can check for understanding with Nearpod by sending out polls, quizzes, Collaborate! boards, and open-ended discussion questions. As soon as students submit their responses, teachers will have an instant snapshot of their students' understanding of a particular topic. Please click to learn more.
Ed Puzzle: Teachers can create a video and embed formative assessment questions directly into the video, so that teachers can check for understanding in real time, as the student watches the video. Please click to learn more.
Google Forms: Teachers can create a google form with formative assessment questions that can determine a student's mastery of understanding. Please click to learn more.
Actively Learn: Teachers can utilize Actively Learn to embed formative assessment questions in pdfs, novels, articles, or videos that can be automatically graded and provide immediate feedback. Please click to learn more.
REAL TIME CHECKS
Discussion Board in Canvas: Utilizing the discussion board in Canvas allows teachers and students to participate in an online chat that happens in real time.
GoGuardian: Teachers can utilize GoGuardian to shadow student work on their desktop. By utilizing this program, teachers can watch the work that their students are doing and determine if they are confused or off-task. Teachers can utilize the chat function to communicate with the student in real time to provide support. Please click to learn more.
Slack: Teachers can utilize Slack with their students to provide a back channel chat platform that appears on a teacher and student's desk top in real time. Teachers simply have to create an account, add their students' emails, and request notifications. The back channel chat will allow teachers and students to communicate with each other in real time from their Chromebook or phone. Please click to learn more.