QUESTION: Tracking student work using Technology

[Kim Davis]

Hello for those that teach in the middle (middle school)

I was wondering if anyone has found success with tracking student work completion with literature circles, daily assignments, or strategy groups using technology. Is anyone keeping up with student work via technology (google docs, wikis, Edmodo,etc) that is simple? I would like the kids to be able to send me  or post their work) I have 125 students and I am hoping that someone out there has a plan they would like to share? I would also like for the students to share their workwith their peers.

thanks!

[Nancy J.]

I have created literature circle groups on a wiki space a couple of years ago. I divvied up the work so that it was not overwhelming for me to keep up with. At the end, I had the students blog about the experience on edublogs.
Here is an example:http://theapiary.wikispaces.com/

[Kim Davis]

Nancy,

I really like how the students completed their work. Do you still use a wiki in this way?  Thanks so much for sharing!!

Kim

[Nancy J.]

I have used it that way a couple of times. I have also used it for collaborative projects, giving each group their own page yet access to the others.
Interesting feature of the wiki is you can see who does what and when . We have gone to putting a 9:00 pm deadline on work due the next day so parents won't complain their kids weren't up all night working on it.

[Tim Conner]

I use Moodle for my students to share their work.  I can have them upload assignments; I then can download, grade, and upload with my comments for only individual students to see their work.  Moodle also has applications for postings and responding to others' posts online.  It is really a nice tool for what I use.  I have not attempted to use Google Docs.

[Kim Davis]

Thanks Tim,

I think since I am already using Edmodo from time to time, that I may choose this. If it doesn't, then I will look at google docs.  Thanks for your input!

Kim

[Cheryl Lindo]

I use Google docs for turn in of some assignments online. I read the entry, comment, record the grade, then delete from my Shared with me list to keep it cleaned up. This system works pretty well for me.
I have also used Penzu.com for journal entry submissions in the past.

[Kim Davis]

Cheryl,

Thanks for your suggestion about keeping the shared folder cleaned up. This is another consideration when teaching 125 students. I will look into Penzu, I have not used that tool.

Thanks!

Kim

[Amy Anderson]

Cheryl- can you talk a little about how you set up Google docs.  It is so overwhelming to me.

[Cheryl Lindo]

I set up my own account and then had students create theirs. They do have to have an email account to use the system. If they need to create one, using Gmail makes sense. I teach 9th and 10th graders, so they are pretty adept a the process of creating accounts. I then give them my school email and then they type and click the share button and I receive them.

[Anna J. Small Roseboro]

Hello Kim, The key to keeping track of student work on line is to have a strategy that students can follow that, once set up, does not create more work for the teacher.  What worked for me, using Blackboard when it became available and before that dedicated class folders, was to have students post and respond on line to assigned peers  Check with your tech person re: student rights to access.  For their final drafts, student post to folder only I could view.

Things now are much easier with sites like Edmodo, Moodle and Schoology (See comparisons here.)  where teachers can post the assignment, handouts, and rubrics which students can access on line, and where they can post their work, when made available to them, view that of their peers and then see their graded papers with your comments…all electronically.

On each assignment for which students are expected to comment to one another, teacher can post a Wiki with a table set up with groups of five. A-E, or colors: Red, Green, Purple, Blue, Orange.

Students can sign up for the group they'd like.  Then, post their draft in the class folder by a specific date and time.

Next, using a specific prompt or rubric, by the required due date and time, students are expected to respond by to the work of three students in their assigned group. (They’ll read more if they have to choose.)  For example

Red to Green
Green to Purple

Purple to Blue

Blue to Orange

Orange to Red

In the subject line, writers include their group color so peers can see which file to view.  For example: Green-DoAF (Diary of Anne Frank).

The grading:  Full credit for posting draft on time.  Full credit for on time posting courteous helpful comments to the work of three classmates. To reduce students always signing up for same group, I’d change the order from time to time:-).  Assignment: Draft 30 points. Peer Response 15 points (5 per peer). Final draft 50 points. Personal reflection on assignment 5 points. (I like to ask students to state how this paper meets assignment then to estimate their grade.  If theirs matches mine, I raise their grade 1/2 step. C+ becomes B-; B becomes B+, etc.)

At a school where all students do not have access to technology at home, plan in-class time to do the posting and responding.  Being available to observe and assist as students read and respond makes this a valuable use of class time. If students do not need assistance during this class period, teacher could view their work as they post.

In both settings, the teacher can view student work at home, make decisions about what they’re learning and what needs to be re-taught without having to collect, read, grade and return student work before class could proceed to the next step. 

See links from this page Successful Writing Program a couple ways to structure peer-responding.

 

 

 

[Kim Davis]

Anna,

Thanks for the details on peer to peer review and using wikis. I have also noticed how much more students read when given a choice. I have also used Word and used the "Review" option to allow the students to peer review responses to articles or their writing. They LOVE reading suggestions. I did have to teach a mini lesson on how to write a suggestion :-) I will also look into the Successful Writing link you posted. Again, thank you for taking time to give some details on the organization of using technology to keep up with my student's work!

Kim

[Joanna Drusin]

Hi Kim,

I know that our science teacher uses Edmodo which the 6th graders LOVE! (I still haven't really seen it yet but know the kids really like using it!)  We were recently asked not to use google docs because there is a way to anonymously chat and students were not being very nice.  I've had some success having students post on my blog and then respond to one another...but not all students have regular computer access at home so I've made it optional.  Feel free to check out my blog www.mapsandmemories.edublogs.org or the blog where we "published" food memoirs: www.wearewhatweate.edublogs.org

Good luck and hope that helps!

Joanna