SRS Tools

Using SRS (Student Response Systems) tools in your classroom can be a fun and exciting way to keep student attention, and gain student understanding of the material.

Students participating in an activity
 involving  Plickers, an SRS tool 

Student Response Systems are quickly becoming the norm in today's classrooms, and why not? With so many options, there is really no reason for teachers NOT to be using these tools in their classrooms. Well what if our school can't afford tech for our students? You might be asking yourself this question right now, and to put it bluntly, they have an APP for that.

SRS tools have really come a long way, in terms of options and functions, and overall accessibility. The above picture for example, shows students interacting with Plickers, an SRS tool where students can answer Trivia style questions by simply holding up cue cards with symbols drawn on them, making this a great tool for formative assessments of students understanding of the material. The teacher can then scan in their student's answers with any smart device they have access to, and they don't need the newest age tech to run the app either. This a great solution for schools in lower socioeconomic areas. 

Plickers is also an amazing tool for art classes, gym classes, and other disciplines where students might not have access to, or benefit from traditional style test taking. Students with IEP's or 504's, who may struggle with traditional style test taking, can also greatly benefit from something like Plickers. The system allows you to assess student understanding in real time, while you're teaching your lesson, or as a review before your lesson starts, or once you've finished.

While SRS tools functions may vary, each of them can be a great solution for gauging student interest/knowledge, and getting students working with the material they're learning about in a hands on kind of way. 

Example of a Nearpod I am building for a class
through Google Slides

If your school has an option for each student to have their own smart device/tablet/or otherwise, Nearpod is a great tool for setting up interactive slides that allow students to express what they are learning through action. For example, Nearpod unlike Plickers (which is more of a test based system) allows your students to engage in the lesson by finding and posting their own content, as well as allowing them to draw out examples through the use of the Draw It  tool.

I am actually currently working on a Nearpod for my 8th graders for a lesson I'll be teaching. The lesson is on the role of album art, and how these items we're so used to seeing are daily examples of the Elements and Principles of Art in practice. I am able to build the slide show in Google Slides, and then convert the slides/upload them into my Nearpod. What this means is, if I want students to answer questions, or find examples of certain Elements and Principles in album art, I can add that option to my slides through connecting them with Nearpod. It's really a great combination of what Plickers offers on a basic level, while allowing students the option to be more involved in their learning.

SRS tools are a great way to get students engaged and having fun with what they're learning.

After my students work is completed I have them upload images, as well as an Artist Statement, onto Artsonia. This is a very different kind of Student Response System than the ones we have looked at already. Your students will not need access to a school sanctioned smart device, as they can get on Artsonia from any computer or device (notably understandable that not all students will have access to a computer/smart device). This tool allows students to build an online portfolio and presence, much like a real working artist would have to do. 

Teachers, parents, and relatives can then leave comments on students work, making this a great visual tool to get your class thinking and building work habits like a professional artist, and while student work is public, only approved comments appear, and student identities remain private. This is important to remember when putting student artwork out there. This subject will come up, and I strongly suggest getting parent permission before utilizing this tool. 

If you're interested in using Artsonia in your classroom, or learning more about this SRS tool, click here to watch a video I made that explores Artsonia a little further. 

I hope that this has helped you to understand SRS tools a little bit more, and that it has even encouraged you, or made you more excited about using the different options available to you and your students. Remember that we don't have to fear incorporating technology into our classrooms. There are many different ways to utilize SRS tools in a variety of schools and situations, it just may take a little exploration to find the one that fits you best!