Journal Reflection #4

Byrne, R. (2014). Multimedia assessments. School Library Journal, 60(2), 15. 


Summary
     Could using multimedia assessment tools help students who struggle taking tests and those with special differentiation requirements?  Five different online tools are examined to look at how they can assist in helping those who need deeper understanding or those who need the test read aloud to them.
     The first tool is Metta (metta.io) where the instructor can add YouTube videos, pictures, and voice recordings into a presentation.  You can add multiple choice questions through out the presentation and then the student must look over the material and then answer the questions.  Students can't move forward in the presentation until they answer the questions.  These can be saved by giving the students a URL, however, if you are using Google classroom it can be delivered by that using the url option.  These can also be saved in Google drive.
     The next tool is ImageQuiz (www.imagequiz.co.uk).  This tool helps build quizzes based on images.  The teacher can create questions, once they have uploaded an image, by adding outlines around the part of the image that has the answer.  Then you write the questions that go with that image.  The students would answer the questions by clicking on certain parts of the image.  This would be helpful in determining certain body parts or muscle groups in the human body.  This quiz is also given by sharing a url.
     EduCanon (educanon.com) is helpful if you are interested in trying flip teaching.  This tool has you create, assign, and track the progress of the student as they go through the flip teaching lesson.  Creating a lesson is easy and does not necessarily require that you make your own lesson.  Once you know what you are teaching, you can search for videos through educanon to find the right one.  Then you create multiple choice questions through the video, like a time line of questions.
     Perhaps a tool that many students love is Kahoot (getkahoot.com).  This is a great resource to check for understanding as well as using for review before a larger test.  You create a multiple choice test that kahoot then sets up with the answers being attached to symbols and colors.  You can create a time limit and even add background music, like a real game show.  Students will need internet access on a decide to participate.  Phones, laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets work well.  When students go to kahoot, they will be prompted to join the game by entering an ID.  This will be attached to your quiz.  They must create a username and then once everyone is in, the quiz can start.  After each question the class can see who is in the lead.  Points are awarded, not only for the correct answer, but how quickly the correct answer is given.
     The last tool mentioned is one that may not need any introduction.  Google Forms has been used to make quizzes for quite some time.  However, it has recently started supporting the ability to add YouTube videos and images into the quiz.  This may create some different options for assessment.

Reflection
     I am a huge fan of assessing in different ways.  Every student has different needs and these tools provides a variety of ways to assist those who are visual, who need to take their time, who are auditory, and those who thrive on competition.  None of the tools here are overly complicated for the teacher to learn and create quizzes with and all are safe, easy to use, and free.  As different online tools come to light, we need to think about what works best for us and for each objective that we have.  If using these tools does not make sense, we should not use it just because.  However, if one of these tools can make the assessment or learning outcome easier for all, it should be tried.