Kahoot!

New apps for the classroom are popping up all the time, and for me it's been mostly a case of too many apps, not enough time.  But this past Friday a colleague, the amazing Amber Miller, demonstrated kahoot for classroom quizzes, discussion starters, and surveys.  It works kind of like poll everywhere, but it has a lot more visual appeal and generates more student engagement.  The quizzes are quick and easy to create, and the log-in info is displayed prominently throughout the game to accommodate slower students or latecomers.  Students need a smart phone or tablet, but if someone doesn't have one, they can pair up with a student who does. I'm already planning to use it the first day of class for an entertaining way to review the syllabus, regulations, and options.  At the end of the quiz, the teacher can see everyone's answers to all the questions to determine how much remediation is needed and for which students.  I haven't explored it fully yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience at our fall in-service training, which is saying a lot for in-service scheduled on a Friday morning.  You can get a taste of it with this demo video: http://quick.as/nyyt7b. If you have used this app, I would love to know about your experience.

August Angst

About this time every year I am struck with the realization that summer is almost over (at least the work-break part of summer), and I still have a mountain of to-dos to be done before the first day of class on August 24.  Testing students for fall registration (Step 2 of the registration process) has already claimed significant space on my July calendar, and my August calendar is filled with student registrations, syllabus creation, in-service, and a workshop to present.

Every semester, I am torn by the conflict between the the mandate to create a syllabus reflecting departmental requirements and the desire to have a student-driven classroom. The syllabus should be easy. Just take what I had for last fall and change the dates, right? But it's never that simple because I've accumulated more resources and ideas since I wrote last year's syllabus.  How can I accommodate our program's mandates for grammar and process writing while still incorporating technology, process drama, music, listening, more reading…?  The key lies in flexibility.  As I did last year, keep the syllabus general and vague enough that I can bend it to accommodate student needs, interests, and proficiency levels.  I know in my heart of hearts that despite my present August Angst and the mounds of books and papers adorning my home office, it will all fall into place, and I will be ready to greet my new students on August 24, syllabus in hand.