This is my presentation from our EARCOS Weekend Workshop "Transforming Learning with the iPad" at Shekou International School in Shenzhen, China. http://elearning.sis.org.cn/transformipad/ As educators, we are constantly assessing our students’ understanding of their learning to inform instruction and evaluation. When we can see and hear how they are processing and making meaning of concepts and skills, we can provide more targeted instruction and support for their success. In this session we will explore ways teachers and students can use iPads to demonstrate and document thinking and learning.

1. Using iPads to Make Thinking Visible
Diana Beabout
MS Humanities
Shekou International School
dbeabout@sis.org.cn
Twitter: dianabeabout
Blog: www.coetail.com/dbeabout

2. Focus
As educators, we are constantly assessing our
students’ understanding of their learning to inform
instruction and evaluation. When we can see and
hear how they are processing and making
meaning of concepts and skills, we can provide
more targeted instruction and support for their
success. In this session we will explore ways
teachers and students can use iPads to
demonstrate and document thinking and learning.

3. Background:
-taught Social Studies, Language Arts and ESL in the United
States for 16 years.
-2nd year at SIS
-enrolled in COETAIL course
-currently teaching MS Humanities
-grade 6 students have been 1:1 ipads since December 2012
Making Thinking Visible:
-students have to show us their thinking & learning so we can
adjust instruction and provide targeted support
-we’ve always done this, with or without digital tools
-I will share some examples of how I’ve used a few apps and
online resources for informal assessment of students
(individuals and classes)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32066106@N06/4885853065/

4. SKITCH
A photo annotating app
Task: After a study of the influences of ancient Roman culture on modern life,
students were asked to take two photos (with their iPad) of examples of Roman
cultural influences in their homes and communities. Then annotate the photo using
Skitch including the following information: location of photo, description of photo,
how item is related to ancient Roman culture.
*I used this task to assess students’ ability to apply to information to a real-world
example.

8. Educreations
recordable interactive whiteboard app
recordable interactive whiteboard app
Task: As we were studying factors that effect the spread of beliefs and ideas
(‘grows’ & ‘slows’), students were give 30 minutes to find two images (one to
represent a ‘grow’ and one to represent a ‘slow’) and use Educreations to
present the two images with an explanation of how they represented the
concept.
*I used this informal assessment to assess how well students could explain
the concept in their own words.

9. Educreations
recordable interactive whiteboard app
recordable interactive whiteboard app
Alternative Apps
Note: There is no ability to re-record audio Show Me (free)
without starting over. Screen Chomp (free)
Explain Everything (paid)
Example 1: From her presentation, I could assess that
this student had a good grasp of the concept as she
explained both slides thoroughly in her own words.
VIDEO
AVAILABLE ON
NEXT SLIDE

10. Educreations
recordable interactive whiteboard app
recordable interactive whiteboard app
Example 2: This student explained choice of images
and his explanations also demonstrated he has a
good grasp of the concepts. However, I noticed he
used a few words incorrectly (assassination and
abandon).
VIDEO
AVAILABLE ON
NEXT SLIDE

11. Educreations
recordable interactive whiteboard app
recordable interactive whiteboard app
Example 3: Although the images and explanations illustrated the
concept, this student just repeated examples used in class (as we
studied Christianity in Ancient Rome). He would need to apply the
concept in a different way for me to feel confident in his
understanding of it.
VIDEO
AVAILABLE ON
NEXT SLIDE

12. Popplet
*An interactive graphic
organizer
*Available as an app on iPad
(Lite version is free/Paid
version is US$4.99)
*Web based version also
available. (popplet.com)
I have students do brainstorming or organization of ideas
on popplet so I can assess their organization and thought
process and where there might be gaps.

13. Socrative
student response system
Free Teacher app and Student app for iPad
Web based version (www.socrative.com)
)
I use Socrative to create
)
short quizzes, polls and exit
)
tickets. Results are
immediate and go into a
spread sheet for further
analysis of group and
individual needs.
There is also an option for
‘live results’ that can be
displayed to the class
(without identifying
individual students).

14. Padlet (www.padlet.com)
Formally known as Wall Wisher, Padlet is basically ‘digital paper’
where ‘digital sticky notes’ can be posted. A wall is created and then
a link can be shared with participants. In addition to text, links and
files can also be added to a ‘sticky note’.
After going over the rubric for an upcoming project, students posted questions and
concerns on this ‘padlet’. They did not have to put their name on their ‘post’ so
students would feel comfortable posting their questions. I was then able to go in and
sort the ‘posts’ and see what students needed further support and instruction in. I
noticed a lot of questions about vocabulary in the rubric and some instructions.
Questions about Big 6 Research Rubric
http://padlet.com/wall/4q4z5d7nyl

15. EXPLORE
How could I use one of these apps
or resource to demonstrate and
document student thinking and
learning in my classroom?

16. Considerations
When to use?
When would it be beneficial to use any of
these apps &/or online resources?
Workflow?
How will I collect student products?
(besides email)
Shared Devices?
How could I use any of these apps &/or
online resources in a shared device
setting?

17. THANK YOU!
Diana Beabout
MS Humanities
Shekou International School
dbeabout@sis.org.cn
Twitter: dianabeabout
Blog: www.coetail.com/dbeabout
elearning.sis.org.cn