1. TECHNOLOGY CORNER
Socrative (by Mastery Connect) is a cloud based student response system where real-time feedback is quickly and
easily achieved. One of the great aspects about this software is that it can work on any platform and device.
Formative assessments can be created through quizzes (multiple choice, true/false, short answer) and quick
question polls. You also have the opportunity of creating a space race which allows for an engaging and fun
environment to generate student interest in showing their understanding of course content. How to use Socrative
is fairly straight forward and the following link provides you a step-by-step instructional guide:
http://socrative.com/materials/SocrativeUserGuide.pdf
What’s also fantastic about Socrative is once students have answered the questions, you are able to download all
their information on a document (Excel).
Here are some ideas on how Socrative can be used in your classroom.
Lesson activity ideas when using Socrative
Word cloud
Why not use Tagxedo to post your students responses and create eye-catching visuals based on the text they
input. For example, in a lesson that focuses on morals and values, your tutor groups responses can be captured
and then posted up on the classroom wall or portal page.
It is an entertaining and educational tool to help students create eye-catching visuals based on the text they
input.
Using Socrative can help capture the responses provided by the students.
The above image is the core values considered important from my students. This was created using Tagxedo from
the responses collected with Socrative.

2. Engaging Uses of Open Ended Questioning
The quick question – short answer component of Socrative is awesome.
You can gather student questions that they may have. For example, if you were to do a flipped lesson, students
can ask questions on areas they did not understand - anonymously (they would feel less threatened by doing it
this way).
Quite frequently we ask students in our classes ‘do you all understand what I have just discussed?’ and the
majority of times you will have a class full of nodding heads but in reality you just don’t know. Well, you can
actually find out, very quickly. At the end of the lesson you can ask a few questions to see what students have
learned and see their responses immediately.
Know Your Students and How They Learn
Tailoring your teaching methodologies based on how your students learn is crucial in engaging student interest in
the classroom.
Use a series of questions directed at students learnings styles. Here is an example of what I have used with my
Year 12 class.
1. Tell me about a teacher you really liked and what he/she did that you appreciated.
2. Tell me about a teacher that you felt wasn't effective and why?
3. What do you think makes a 'good' teacher?
4. How do you like to get feedback?
5. What else can you tell me that would make me be a better teacher with your learning?
6. What does success in the classroom mean to you?
7. What are you good at that nobody knows?
8. What do teachers sometimes misunderstand about you as a learner?
9. How do you study?
Access previous knowledge and find out what your students already know before the beginning of a unit. Ask a
series of questions to assess knowledge or use Socrative to administer a classic K-W-L activity.
Use Students to Create Quizzes
Socrative is so simple to use that you should allow the creation of quizzes over to the students. There is no reason
why students cannot set up ‘teacher logins’ for themselves. This way, students can create tests for their
classmates to engage with. They can consolidate their learning through the creation of their own line of
questioning. This would then show a real sense of higher level of understanding.
Pre-loaded questions – Quiz Sharing
Click on this link http://garden.socrative.com/?page_id=979 to use quizzes already created by other people. This
is a collaborative google doc. You can also upload your own quizzes as well.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me
Steve Kapsalis-PDHPE TA Committee Member skapsalis@wenona.nsw.edu.au