Kaizena through Google Docs
Terms 2-3 at Dannevirke South we experimented with Kaizena: giving verbal feedback via Google Docs. It was something our Deputy head was finding useful when students sent her online work they were proud of. It's a great function and allows you to highlight parts of student text and record or write your response. It worked the best as a formative assessment tool on my student's speeches. Instead of trekking around the class offering quick advice here and there I was able to record something for each of them the night before so that they were able to get straight on to task the next day during writing. I think this app is great but not for regular use as it's time consuming for the teacher and is not a two way discussion (although many of my students replied via the app too. I must say my class have NEVER been so quiet during writing the next day! I think the students also appreciated having that focused feedback for themselves instead of a quick 3 minute chat during class. Will continue to explore this one.
Webinar on e-learning appraisal as part of VLN
Blogging in Class Ideas
- At the beginning of the day select one comment that you’ve received - project on the whiteboard ask - is it positive (complementary), thoughtful (connection), helpful(stimulates more dialogue) refer to criteria sheet
- Have a daily reporter & photographer to document part of the classroom programme.
- Have a spotlight on writing - select a student author, take a photo of their work, record their voice and upload to blogger for comment see example
- Read blogs as part of the silent reading programme and as a rotation on your reading or writing tumble
- Get students to share a blog post they like from another class and why they have chosen it
- Have an ideas board so when students see blogs they like they can note down the url, web tool, software, app etc..