Learning has never been so much fun

Published: 15 April, 2007

Access to online forums and teacher networks such as Promethean Planet (www.prometheanplanet.com) have opened up new ways for teachers to use their interactive whiteboards – discussing the best software, hardware, new gadgets, training courses as well as sharing tips and flipcharts for specific lessons. One particular set of tools that are being used more and more in schools to accompany the whiteboard are student response systems. These handheld devices can be used for non-academic and curriculum purposes to make lessons more fun and engaging. Below are a few ideas on how to use them in the classroom.

Promethean’s Activote is compatible with any type of interactive whiteboard and can quickly be set up to display the classroom response anonymously or publicly. It is a powerful tool in recording the ongoing Formative Assessment that takes place throughout most lessons. Being integrated within the Activ software means the tools are readily available to make teaching points or resolve misconceptions as they occur.

The pre-prepared content helps to assess the topics prescribed in the National Curriculum. Activote allows records to be kept and easily exported into Excel - thus making Summative Assessment more efficient and less labour intensive.

Activote questions and answers do not have to be pre-prepared. A question can be asked at any time, in any lesson, using any program. The options to vote on can be determined by the class, encouraging pupils to share ideas, often giving the teacher a clearer insight into their thought processes.

The easy ad-hoc nature of the Activote system also supports the spontaneity of impromptu discussions. In addition planned discussions are facilitated, encouraging pupils to consider and justify the options they choose.

Case study: King's Furlong Infant School and Nursery, Basingstoke
Since getting their Activote a few months ago, primary teacher Louise Bristow has been finding new ways of using them. They are so popular that her kids are requesting to use the kits more and more! “I find that children tend to remember the lesson more when I use Activote,” says Louise. “It is amazing when they start to get the kit out to show that they want to be quizzed.”

Here are some examples of how she uses them:

She asks the children to vote on their favourite new school purchases such as toys and technology
After a discussion about where she may have hidden a Spot the Dog toy in the school grounds, she asks the class to vote where they think it is hidden. They then hunt for the toy, followed by a discussion about why each pupils chose their answer
The Year 1 pupils elected the Year 1 student council members by the teacher presenting photos of each candidate on the interactive whiteboard.

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