Plickers in the Classroom

Have you heard of Plickers yet?  They are printable "clickers" that teachers can use to collect student data using only ONE device (a smartphone or tablet).  The teacher simply has the app on the device and the website on a computer.  The students hold their "plickers" in different directions to answer A, B, C, D (or True/False).  Obviously, this isn't earth-shattering and is only using multiple choice, but multiple choice can be great for quick formative assessments to guide instruction.  This simple technology allows teachers to immediately get feedback from students and alter instruction accordingly!

Need a better idea of what this is? Annette Sapp has created a great YouTube video showing instructional use. See it below.

Here are some basic technical steps I created to help teachers use Plickers:

A New Year, A New Goal

A few months ago, I took a position as a district instructional technologist.  It became my job to ensure that teachers had the technology skills they needed to successfully meet the needs of their learners.  Being a classroom teacher, I knew exactly what teachers sometimes think (or even say) about "those people."  One of my best teacher friends set me straight right away.  I announced to a small group of friends that I would be leaving for a new position in a new district. I told them how I would finally be a person who could SUPPORT teachers and be a resource for their needs.  I wanted to be a person teachers could reach out to when they had needs.  Obviously, I knew exactly how demanding teaching was and how little support teachers sometimes have.  Being the friend she is, she looked at me and said "Brittany, I know your intentions are good, but teachers will hate you. You'll be just ONE MORE THING they have to do on top of everything else. Eventually though, you will win them over, like you did me."

In that moment, I was sure she was correct.  She was the one in the group who never sugar-coated things anyway.  We had a rocky start a few years earlier, with teachers being shuffled to create my spot on the hallway.  Over time, we became good friends (and she became quite the little techie too!).

The other day, I was remembering this moment.  I realized that I now have a few months into my position and that she was right.  Some teachers definitely see my visits as something extra they are required to do.  However, the second part of her statement was also true.  Once teachers trusted that I really wanted to help, I "won them over."  The interesting part is that there is great variability in how quickly teachers trust.  There are, without a doubt, many or even most, who still see me as an extra training or requirement.  But I am making progress.  If I can help even 50 teachers more effectively teach students this year or just inspire them to learn more, I will call this year a success.

All of that leads me to "Lighting the Fire." My goal with educators is that, just as I tried with students, I want to light the fire in them that encourages them to WANT to learn. The name comes from my favorite quote by William Yeats that says "Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire."  It is never about all the content and tech tools I can fill teachers with but the inspiration to want to learn more and use tools to better meet the needs of students.

I often encourage my teachers to seek support and inspiration in learning networks online through blogs, Twitter, Google +, etc.  It only makes sense that I, not only partake, but contribute to the online community. So, with the new year comes a new goal: contribute to the success of educators everywhere through a blog sharing ideas and resources.