Assessment Using Technology

Today in class we discussed various ways that we could use technology when assessing our students. We discovered two new ways: Plickers, and Google Forms. In other classes, I have used google forms being a student answering questions and filling out self-evaluation forms. Seeing the inner workings of a google form post was fun!

Google Forms

Google Forms is a great way to give students some homework and then getting immediate assessment when they complete the form. Within Google Forms, you can embed videos, pictures, create multiple choice questions, short answer, long answer etc. It definitely allows for variety and versatility.

Retreieved from: GOOGLE+FORMS.jpg

How to Use Google Forms

-Under the Google Waffle, it is a 'Google Drive' option.
-Then you can add a title of the document
-A question could be required such as a name if you want to know who completed that specific form
         ->There is a special slide button that will make the specific field required.
-There are also drop down menus to determine the type of question you want to ask.
-An answer key can also be added. (At the bottom of each question there is an 'answer key' button which will allow you to put in the answer. It will only work well for multiple choice or true and false type, one word answer questions)
-When the form is complete, clicking the 'eye' at the top right corner of the page will bring you to the 'Live version'. This is what it would look like for the student's point of view.

When students have completed the form, as the admin of the form you can go to the Edit mode. Then click on the responses tab. Then by selecting the free icon, a Spreadsheet will be created with all the students' answers to each question. To help assess the answers efficiently, at the top of the spreadsheet there is an 'add-ons' option. Scroll down until you read Get Add-on, then in the search bar find Flubaroo. To add, click on the blue +Free button. Then Select Allow to give permission to Flubaroo.

To Mark using Flubaroo:
-Click add-ons and select Flubaroo
-The select Grade Assignment
-Choose the grading option for each question (then continue)
-Choose your answer key
-Now the test responses are marked and pie charts or bar graphs can be made from this data!


Plickers

This is an exciting new app that I discovered today. This allows some technology to be used in the classroom, but does not require students to have access to their own device. The teacher only needs a smartphone or a tablet. The app allows to student to anonymously show an answer or their opinion to something by holding up an 'encrypted' sign. It looks like the one on the left. Each card is different, similar to QR codes. Each side of the square has an A, B, C, or D label. Depending on the question the teacher poses the student holds their card facing a specific way with the letter they want to use facing the ceiling or on the top. Then the teacher uses the Plickers app on their device and scans across the classroom. Then the app registers all the student's answers and complies it into a bar graph. As a teacher you can have each picture attached to a specific child so that you know who answered what. Sometimes as the teacher you can also have it projected up onto the board for everyone to see the variety of answers, or you can keep it confidential for your knowledge only.

Check out this video for more information about Plickers!

Genius Hour Update

This weeks as I have been researching more about nut allergies, I decided to focus more on finding the biology. I was curious to know why certain people have allergies versus others. Here is what I found:

-Nut allergies are more prevalent in developing countries
-4-5% have severe life threatening allergies (Hourihane, 1997; Kurowski & Boxer, 2008)
-It is a disorder with a person's immune system, which creates hypersensitivity towards the allergen (Plukett, 2010; Gillard, 2014)
-When someone ingests a nut, their immune system incorrectly identifies the protein, and reacts accordingly. The person's body reacts with the immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody (Gillard, 2014; Kurowski & Boxer, 2008; Edelstein, 2014; Patterson, 1980)
        ->IgE: mediator in the body during hypersensitivity reaction. It bonds to tissue and releases   histamines. These histamines act like an alarm telling the person they ingested something wrong
-allergic reactions are specific to the individual because the antibodies that are release occur in different places depending on where they are created in the bloodstream (Gillard, 2014)

-Prusak et al. (2014) examined why there are different prevalence rates depending on the the geographic region. The study found that there are 3 different processes how how peanuts are handled. 
        1)Boiling
        2)Frying
        3)Roasting
-Each way, the nature of the proteins change
-While roasting (how America make peanut butter) the chemical compound in the nut changes because of the high temperatures used in the process 

-Genetic makeup also plays a key role
-Plunkett (2010) found all allergies are common in urban locations.
-Genetic codes do not follow the Laws of Mendelian inheritance
        ->Mendelian's Law: genetic codes are passed through generation, allowing scientists to predict the genetic composition of a person
-Molloy and Hourihane (2008) suggests that if the mother of a child is atopic of there is family history of atopy, then the mother should avoid nuts during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Sabrina's Law
-to protect children who have anaphylactic allergies (Bill 3, 2005)
-Requires all school boards to establish and maintain school environments to reduce the risk to anaphylactic agents
-All schools need a detailed steps and precaution for each child who has anaphylactic allergies.