Please read this post by guest Blogger Emily Nestor! #Exceptional job Mrs. Nestor!

As educators, we all know the blank stares and lack of engagement that come with preparing for high stakes assessments. During these “prepping sessions,” we ask students to read passages, answer questions, and work through problems that resemble what they will see on the “big test.” We go over each of the questions to ensure that everyone knows the right answer and then we move on. But is what we are doing really effective? My answer to this question is no. Research suggests that when students are actively engaged, they are more likely to retain the knowledge that is being presented to them. So how do we achieve this level of engagement with test? We add a little tech to it! The web is full of Tech Tools that can add a level of engagement to test prep and truly take it to the next level. Here are a few of my favorites!

Exit Ticket: Simply create your classes and have students join using a special class code. Ask questions on the fly or build your own practice assignments and receive immediate feedback that can help you “zero in” on struggling students.

Kahoot: We all know that kids love games! That’s why Kahoot is a great choice for practice and review! You can create quizzes, discussions, and even surveys that have join in the fun by simply typing in a special code. The bright colors and easy to follow format make it 100% kid friendly!

Socrative: This is an oldie, but a goodie! With a very user-friendly interface and easy sign up for students, this is a great choice to implement during review. Build your own quizzes using test specs or ask a Quick Question by randomly choosing a question from your test prep work. And of course, the data you have access to would be great for more individualized instruction!

Mentimeter: To get stated, all you have to do is create an account and create your first event! Give your students the code to join your event and access your questions!  This tool is very basic and a great starting point for implementing tech into review. A few cons – answers are anonymous, you can only ask 2 questions per event, and you can’t download the data….Unless you want to upgrade.

Quiz Socket: This a great tool for those who are a little less tech savvy or don’t want to spend a great deal of time setting up a site. Simply go the website, create a quiz, and have students join and share their answers with you by simply chose A, B, C, or D. You can even download the data into a CSV file !