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How can we help students use the laptop as a tool to study for upcoming test?
February 29, 2008 · 9 Comments
Categories: Classroom Managment · Study Skills · Test Prep
9 responses so far ↓
holtonteachers // February 28, 2008 at 10:00 pm |
The other day Mr. Weilert and I had a conversation about students taking notes on the computer. The question that we were discussing — what are students doing with those notes to help them study for test.
Mr. Weilert said he has some who print off the notes and then cut/paste them to note cards or simply rewrite them on note cards to study. But then we are probably talking about the students who work hard to study.
This made me start thinking/asking questions what are we doing to help our students figure out ways to use the technology and the notes they take study for upcoming test? Is there anything?
So I work on couple solutions so far.
a) Everyone has keynote …
1) Students could create a keynote (powerpoint) that on one slide has a question and the next slide has the address.
2) Students could Export out the keynote to their iTunes. This creates a movie slide show where they set how much time each slide shows before the next one. Once in iTunes they could upload it to their video ipods and walk around with the ipod as a review tool. Simply pausing on the question to think the answer then hitting play to see the next slide and checking their answer against their notes.
3) Teacher driven … teachers could do the same thing. Create a review keynote but export it out to iWeb. In doing so the teacher would save it in a movie format. Once in iWeb the teacher only need to upload their iWeb page to the server. From there the student has two choices (1) Go to the site and watch the video or (2) They could subscribe to your site and the movie will upload to their iTunes the next time they turn on their iTunes. From there they could watch it as many times as they wanted on their computer (no Internet needed now) or upload it to their iPod.
b) You could have the students drop their notes into a class site where all students could see the notes. This way they could compare their notes with others. (Yes, I know this isn’t something you might want to do often but might be something good to do right at the being of the year. Use this to lead a discussion on how to take notes.)
c) There maybe another way of doing this but tell them to insert a table on the blank page before they start taking notes. This table would only be two columns with the left one smaller. They write their notes in the right column. At the end of the day as they review their notes have them create questions in the left column that relates to the notes on the right side. Maybe couple of questions per-page. Now they have two options (1) Print out their notes and when studying they simply fold their paper to cover up their notes and only expose their questions. Then as they review they can simply pick up the fold side to peak at their notes. (2) No Paper needed … Have them create a square shape (graphic) that covers up the right side. They simply click and drag the square downward to expose their notes as they answer a question.
holtonteachers // February 28, 2008 at 10:01 pm |
Karen Ford said … To study for the test there is also Quia. It has a note card feature with the review but the teacher would have to create it – then kids could review on the computer. That might save some time in a pinch.
holtonteachers // February 28, 2008 at 10:02 pm |
Caroyln McKee said let students transfer their notes to audio (ipod) and then allow them to list to their notes while they take the test.
holtonteachers // February 28, 2008 at 10:02 pm |
Kurt Haussler … Actually, kids can create in quia also as a guest user…I did this with a class last year to create reviews for everyone to share with the rest of the class. I am not sure how long they can use it without having a subscription but I believe they can create review activities without paying for an acct.
Quia experts?? Anyone tried this with their students?
holtonteachers // February 28, 2008 at 10:02 pm |
Jason Larison … I set up one big trial account and had all students use that one… then we copied that out into another account 30 days before the account expired. Some students made millionare games, others did flashcards, and some did jeopardy. I think they learned more by making the games than they did from taking other peoples.
Carol Braum // February 29, 2008 at 1:00 am |
Quia has many activities already on the site that can be used in a guest mode. While not necessarily relevant to study for tests, they would be a great resource to use with a sub needing a filler. There are activities for nearly every subject imaginable.
A login account would not be necessary.
Jason Larison // February 29, 2008 at 1:11 am |
I know it is a resource we have had for a while, but I still think MOODLE is an untapped resource. Journals, discussion forums, wiki’s, study chats, etc are all great resources when students have those laptops.
Why not put up some practice essay questions and let students take a crack at them in a discussion forum? Or use a Moodle journal for a student to reflect on their study habits for this last test? Or have an evening moodle chat to answer student questions for an upcoming test from the comfort of your own recliner at home? Or the same study chat could happen in your own classroom (DURING CLASS)? How many different ways can Moodle be used for your Bellwork or Starter activity?
This semester I have entirely reorganized my Moodle courses by unit topic and have been amazed at how handy it is.
Tad Hernandez // February 29, 2008 at 1:18 pm |
If we are really talking notes and study aides, look at wikis and blogs. We
have the tools to create interactive blogs, what a great journal tool for the
students, and more so, they CAN’T forget it or leave it anywhere, as it would be
web based.
WE have done review games before, but then you have to download something or run
them, etc. If you can get it web based, that is power.
This would also show students more positive uses of technology and also get them
into their world some more and out of our world more…so to speak. Lets be
real, note taking in an organized format is not done in the mass anymore, and
the point of this is what? If we can get them to get “notes” in a way that is
meaningful to them…..now we are talking.
Speaking of talking….do you know the amount of text messages and IM sent
EXCEEDS THE POPULATION of this planet? Ok, so why don’t we look at tapping into
their cell phones to text message a question of the day…..don’thave texting on
your phone, well then there is the same thing that could be posted on the wiki,
or there are websites that you can send a text message to a phone without having
to use a cell phone to do so…..
Great discussions, and great discussions for both PLC’s and for CFG’s!!!!!
holtonteachers // March 4, 2008 at 7:01 pm |
Note taking with PPT. If you provide the students with your actual PPT. They can they choose under “VIEW” in the title bar … “Notes View”. This places the slide at the top of the page and an area where students can type their notes for that slide.