Technology Tuesdays – iPads for Assessment

Today’s Technology Tuesday session is about using iPads for Assessment purposes in the Early Years.

It is an amalgamation of two of my previous posts, Evernote and RRCalc.

Evernote can be a tricky app to master, but I found that when I set it up on my computer, the iPad app became a lot easier to use.  It allows me to have a Notebook Stack for my class, with each student having their own Notebook. Within each student’s Notebook, I have created Notes for different categories.  For example, in Brad’s Notebook, I have 3 Notes so far – Behaviour, Maths and Literacy.

I have created a handout for the session, with links to videos which help explain how to use Evernote in conjunction with the RRCalc, to keep track of reading progress.  The handout can be found here: iPads & Early Years Assessment.

Other apps that I use for my assessment are

• Numbers – like an Excel Spreadsheet, with a different sheet for each topic (Spelling Results, PAT Maths, Project Partners etc).
• Record of Reading – very similar to the RRCalc, but this app allows you to photograph the running record with the words to follow along.
• Skitch – I will often photograph a rubric in Skitch and then annotate for various students. There’s probably a much easier way…I’m still learning and trying!

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iPads for Assessment

As I am trying to cut back on my paper trail, I am always looking for ways to use my iPad.

Assessment is no different. I am using a range of apps to try and streamline my assessment records. Here are a few of my must-haves:

Calc (previously RR Calc)

Recording your student read aloud allows you to calculate their accuracy, words per minute and text level. The only way of keeping these records is via email. I email them to myself and then open them in Evernote.

I have created a notebook stack with a notebook for each student in Evernote, so once the reading recording has been opened in Evernote, I just move it to the student’s individual notebook. (Please note, creating a notebook stack can only be achieved when using Evernote on a computer, not an iPad! I have a notebook stack called ‘Students 2014’, with 26 notebooks within that stack). Having that audio file of the student reading is perfect evidence for parent teacher interviews!

Evernote

Evernote is my next must-have, for the reasons above, plus much more! The ability to tag your notes with a category makes it easy to see all of the notes that you have written about ‘Meetings 2014’, or finding the web address that you typed down to access the school interview site!

Numbers

The iPad version of Microsoft Excel, this app offers all of the same spreadsheet functions. I never knew how valuable a spreadsheet was until last year. I store ALL of my assessment results in Excel – scores, dates, stanine, percentages etc, while all of my anecdotal notes are for Evernote. I have a page for each different type of assessment/record keeping – South Australian Spelling Test, PAT testing, Weekly Spelling Test scores, On Demand Testing, Assembly Awards, Reading Levels and Reciprocal Reading Groups…you name it, I’ve recorded it!

TeacherKit

Many of my colleagues use this in the secondary department as they have various subjects and classes. This app allows you to take the roll, assess student work, track student behaviour, create seating plans and add notes to lesson plans. Read more about this app here.

App of the Week#5: RRCalc

What is it?

RRCalc is a calculator, programmed to work as you conduct your Running Records with readers, to help you calculate your results. The app retails at $1.99 in the App Store.

Why should I download it?

Not only does RRCalc assist you in calculating your results, but it offers an audio-recording option, so you can flag the errors at certain parts and listen back to it later. As you begin, you are able to flag the error and mark it as a self-correction if necessary. Once the reading is completed, you are asked to enter the number of words for the text, which will calculate a Words Per Minute (WPM) score based on the total time taken to read. I find this particularly helpful for those students who may not be making too many errors, but need assistance with their fluency and phrasing.

What do I use it for?

I use RRCalc to calculate my Running Records, but more importantly, the WPM. The audio recording is able to be emailed to yourself, or another person, (or your Evernote account for anecdotal records!) but must be done before you begin another Running Record. Once you hit the ‘Reset’ button, the app discards the previous recording – so emailing on the spot is the best method.  I email these to my Evernote account and organise them in the particular student’s notebook – perfect for listening back to, sharing with parents, or even with the students themselves to help discuss reading goals.

How do I get it?

Click here to be directed to RRCalc in the App Store.

 

This post is the fifth in a series, highlighting apps which can be helpful in the education ‘game’.

App of the Week #3: Evernote

What is it?

Evernote is a note-taking app, with the ability to organise notes into notebooks and add tags to make your notes searchable for keywords.

Why should I download it?

Evernote allows you to create notes using editable text, as well as inserting photos,videos and audio files. Creating notebooks for each student allows you to keep anecdotal notes, as well as audio/visual evidence, all in one easy to find place. It is also a Web 2.0 program, able to be downloaded to your desktop for easy use. Syncing notes between your PC and iPad is easy.

What do I use it for?

Evernote can be used for anecdotal student notes, meeting notes, PD experiences and more. Evernote even has it’s own email system, meaning you can email notes to and from your notebooks. Taking a photo of a presenter’s presentation is far more efficient than trying to scribble everything down in a hurry. Adding a ‘tag’, or a category to each note makes it easy to locate certain topics in your notes.

How do I get it?

Click here to be directed to Evernote in the App Store.

This post is the third in a series, highlighting apps which can be helpful in the education ‘game’.