TOP PICKS | 27 TOOLS
Top Tech Tools for Formative Assessment
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Interactive Lessons and Video
Edulastic
Powerful formative assessment tool tracks achievement of standards
Bottom line: Efficient platform supports teachers who are expected to assess and track student progress on meeting standards.
Nearpod
Interactive slideshow tool engages students, promotes collaboration
Bottom line: This effective tool leverages the capabilities of 1-to-1 environments and offers both teacher- and student-paced learning.
PlayPosit
Simple design makes it easy to jump into interactive video
Bottom line: With features that are both basic and useful, it's an easy tool to learn; adding interactivity to video is a snap.
Spiral
Provide instant feedback with collaborative, multimedia assessment tool
Bottom line: Engaging, easy-to-use tool that supports both formative and summative assessment while allowing for student collaboration.
Edpuzzle
Crop, customize, and remix online video content with interactive tool
Bottom line: As a flipped classroom or student creation tool, there are lots of opportunities for use, but teachers will need to be creative if they want students to engage.
LessonUp
Flexible interactive presentation tool engages kids at school and home
Bottom line: LessonUp is for teachers who like designing unique lessons to reach every learner.
ClassFlow
Robust lesson-creation, presentation tool offers built-in assessment
Bottom line: This powerful tool supports connected and blended learning from instruction to assessment, though it's best used to enhance already great instruction.
Pear Deck
Go beyond the basics with interactive slide shows to assess and engage
Bottom line: While it has some limits, this engaging, useful presentation platform is a great option for formative assessment in one-to-one or BYOD classrooms.
Flipgrid
Pose questions, spark thoughtful video responses with stellar tool
Bottom line: A simple way for students and teachers to create online discussion, as long as your classroom culture is mature enough to use it wisely.
GoClass
Deliver interactive lessons right to kids' mobile devices and tablets
Bottom line: Support learning in and out of the classroom with this multi-faceted content-delivery tool.
Quizzing, Polling, and Student Response
Classkick
Easy-to-use, real-time monitoring, feedback, and assessment for 1-to-1
Bottom line: It's a great option for teachers who want to go paperless, provide specific feedback, and encourage collaboration among students in 1-to-1 classrooms.
Mentimeter
Call on everybody at once with flexible, interactive presentation tool
Bottom line: This flexible tool supports the creation of dynamic presentations and can help teachers strike a balance between information and interaction.
Recap: Video Response and Reflection for Education
Multimedia reflection app puts a new spin on class discussion
Bottom line: By promoting regular self-reflection and inquiry through Recap, teachers can support more authentic learning and self-assessment among their students.
Formative
Superb real-time assessment tool a fit for 1-to-1, BYOD classrooms
Bottom line: Cleverly designed for teachers, Formative offers a flexible and attractive solution for gathering a variety of student response types and offering individualized feedback.
Sero!
Fresh approach to assessment through concept maps shows promise
Bottom line: This unique formative assessment platform's success will largely depend on teachers to keep content meaningful and relevant.
Socrative
Formative and summative assessment merge in snapshot polls and quizzes
Bottom line: Powerful and easy-to-use student-response system has the potential to support responsive teaching.
Kahoot!
Game-like student-response tool can spark competitive fun
Bottom line: Effortlessly fun quizzing that can lead to productive formative assessment and student reflection if implemented effectively.
Quizalize
Familiar game show-like quizzes with a few new features
Bottom line: Easy-to-set-up and mostly free way to assign quizzes and check for understanding with a handy but paid option for progress tracking.
Plickers
Useful, low-tech rapid-response tool promotes formative assessment
Bottom line: This can be a useful tool for teachers looking to get quick feedback or snapshots of understanding in technology-limited classrooms.
GoSoapBox
Solid web-based clicker tool gives instant feedback
Bottom line: The workable tool for online formative assessment offers a variety of worthwhile features.
The Answer Pad
Simple, multipurpose assessment tool for the BYOD classroom
Bottom line: A simple but flexible tool for paperless testing and engaging student-response activities in the classroom.
Poll Everywhere
Straightforward student-response tool does its job well
Bottom line: Great if you're looking for simple polling, but more robust features that make Poll Everywhere competitive with other apps come with the $50/year version.
Discussion
Kaizena
Nifty add-on enables audio and text feedback in Google Docs
Bottom line: If your classroom relies a lot on Google Docs, this might just be the feedback tool you're looking for.
Microsoft Teams
Collaborative platform helps manage multiple groups and projects
Bottom line: It offers a ton of options for integrating learning; the lack of some typical LMS features may make it a better fit for small groups or nontraditional group configurations.
YO Teach!
Backchannel tool offers interactive polls, drawing, messages, and more
Bottom line: Quick setup and multimodal features make this a great fit for a variety of carefully monitored classroom discussions.
Backchannel Chat
Real-time, moderated online discussions can engage and encourage
Bottom line: Backchannel Chat offers a fun and safe way to hold real-time online discussions that might just increase engagement, interest, and even learning.
Piazza
Advanced Q&A tool compels collaboration, higher-order thinking
Bottom line: Encourage collaborative, student-centered learning with this useful platform, but make sure it's the right fit for your students.
