How I Use It
I have used Plickers with students as well as with teachers and other staff. A great tech tool to utilize because it's free AND you don't have to have a device for everyone! I created my account online and developed my questions and quizzes there. I downloaded the app on my smartphone and use my phone to scan the classroom for my students' answers. I use Plickers for basic formative assessment, test/unit review, and to check background knowledge at the beginning of a unit. I made the mistake of printing the cards on regular printer paper the first time- too flimsy and can easily be ripped and torn! I suggest cardstock and even laminating the answer cards. For my students I assigned numbers to I had specific feedback for each of them- when I use it with teachers and staff I usually don't have specific names for each number- it is usually used for a general purpose to get feedback from the overall group. I would be very selective in how you use Plickers. If it is over-used in the classroom students will get bored pretty quickly and not think through the questions very well.
My Take
Overall, Plickers is a great tool to use sparingly in your classroom or with your staff to mix up your formative assessment, test review, and to get instant feedback. I like that you can save results, compare classes, and get a graph representation of the data. When used every now and then, like maybe a few times per unit, it is really motivating and engaging for students. It takes a little practice to get your set-up ready to go in the classroom- you have to see your computer screen to start quizzes, students have to see the questions on a projector of some sort, and you have to have your phone ready to go. A very basic level of comprehension is required for students (multiple choice and T/F), however the teacher can create reflection questions and attempt to reach that higher level of processing.
