ICT: Class Dojo & Plickers

Feedback on Class Dojo:

Pre-existing Knowledge- difficult to carry out

(1) the screens need to be constantly toggled

(2) difficult to add marks to every individual student, more convenient (and adds peer pressure) to add them by groups (imo)

(3) Don't see the point when we can just add marks (visible at all times) to groups on the whiteboard

Demo- 3 CA (Yong Xiang)

(1) realized that not being able to see who gets the points (but being provided with the sound) actually creates more suspense and thus every one is quiet

(2) Ability to create groups and add points by groups, have noise-meters, sort random groups, and many more classroom tools make it more convenient!

(3) The cute monsters and the sound effects, visuals etc make the students very excited (maybe the effect is one of novelty, but still?)

(4) INSTANT PARENTAL COMMUNICATION CHANNEL: The knowledge that their parents have access to the app and are able to view their child's progress is A BIG FACTOR. This can potentially solve my problem with uploading class photos and videos of their performances as well (i originally wanted to post their performances on a blog, but was advised that it was a big hassle and also potentially dangerous unless the blog is locked and only parents of that class have the password).

Trial Round- 2RP & 2DL

(1) IT'S TRUE

(2) Have not tried

(3) VERY TRUE

(4) There are a few potential problems that I see. Firstly, I see that some teachers have added their students to the Class Dojo app but the students say they have not seen it (i.e. the teachers have not/rarely use it in class). Nor have their parents been informed. I will need to check with the teachers if I can inform the parents myself (and then figure out how to get their emails etc?). Also, I am not sure if my adding and taking away points etc might cause trouble for the FTs from certain parents.

But all in all, I am very excited to continue with it and also to add the parents in the loop! (:

Feedback on Plickers:

Pre-Plicker Knowledge- TOUGH TO USE ICT BECOS MIFI!

(1) MIFIs are unstable and the students have to connect to it by themselves, which potentially wastes a large amount of time since the whole class has to wait for 1 student. Also, the previous time I used MIFI for Kahoot!, the portable routers worked well downstairs but when I brought them up to the Recording Studio they all could not work and my effort for Kahoot! was wasted.

Demo- Nadia/Youtube

Happened to tell my problem to Nadia and she told me her school is using this app called Plickers which seems to solve my woes (up to a limited aka True/False & MCQ qns extent)

Trial Round- 2RP & 2DL

(1) WORKS LIKE A CHARM. I can even get a student to help me scan it.

(2) Need to queue the questions which means you need to prep

(3) Potential Problems:

-I don't know how fast the phone can recognize the codes --> print 1 per A4?

-I HAVE YET TO FIND MATTE LAMINATING PAPER.

-Crumples easily- need to get Cardstock?

*To Introduce:

-Explain and let students try in groups first (i.e. have 5 cards and pass 1 down each row so 5 students answer at 1 go. This way, they get to try the card first and they also get to watch their friends use it (if they all get their own set they might not learn as fast).

-Get them used to the 10sec rule (Plickers does not have that, or maybe I have not explored enough)