In preparation for last week’s trimester exams, Ashley O’Toole, our Middle School Learning Specialist, reviewed some study and test-taking strategies with the seventh grade.  Her presentation, which she graciously agreed to share with a wider audience, can benefit students of all ages:

Many of the techniques Ashley suggested can be supported by technology, and the array of digital tools at our disposal can address a wide variety of learning styles.  The following resources are readily available, easy to use, and can strengthen the teaching-learning process.

FLASHCARDS

Developing students’ higher-order thinking skills may be the ultimate pedagogical goal, but learning requires scaffolding, and fundamental knowledge and skills are often acquired through rote memorization.  The lowly 3 x 5 flashcard has met this need for generations, and while paper index cards can be effective, more powerful electronic options are available.

Ink Flash Cards: Included with the free Microsoft Education Pack, Ink Flash Cards are double-sided and accept text, ink, and images. When reviewing, users have the option of presenting the cards in order or randomly, and the cards can be set to advance automatically.

TabletFlash: Language teachers should consider trying TabletFlash, a comparable (and free) program that includes the ability to record and embed audio hints.  Because the audio is stored on the card files, copying and sharing card sets is simple.

Quizlet: Started by a 15 year old in 2005, Quizlet is a free web-based tool for mastering vocabulary.  Users can create and share their card sets and/or browse Quizlet’s extensive library of user-submitted content.  Quizlet’s five different study modes (Familiarize, Learn, Test, Scatter, and Space Race) range from “fun to powerful” and are highly engaging.

GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS

Graphic organizers have long been used by students to organize/classify information and visually represent the relationships between important concepts.  Just as electronic flashcards are a major improvement over their paper predecesors, new digital tools make creating Venn diagrams, concept maps, and KWL charts easier than ever.

OpenMind 2.0

Although Inspiration has long been the standard among commercial applications, we recently migrated to Matchware’s OpenMind 2.0.  In addition to concept maps, OpenMind can also create timelines, integrates with Microsoft Office, and includes a number of organizer templates.

Webspiration

Inspiration recently introduced Webspiration, a free (for now) web-based version of their popular software program currently available in a public beta program.  Although it lacks some of the features of its desktop counterpart, it has great collaboration features and gets high-marks for ease of use.

Other Online Options

There are a number of online tools available for creating graphic organizers, including MindMeister, Mindomo, Mind42, and Bubbl.us.  Each can create basic mind maps and all are free.  As with any Web 2.0 tool, however, it’s important to consider sustainability; some of these sites may be gone before the next round of exams.

MULTIMODAL NOTES

Note-taking is unquestionable an important skill, and good lecture notes can mean the difference between success and failure.  For many students, however, the writing process requires so much mental energy that they completely miss the classroom discussion.  Fortunately, tools like OneNote and DyKnow can help capture what is being seen and heard.

OneNote

As an electronic notebook, Microsoft’s OneNote offers several advantage over traditional pencil and paper:

• Notes may be typed and/or handwritten
• Page elements (e.g. notes, images, etc) can easily be repositioned and resized
• Numerous options for pens, highlighters, and page lines
• Copy/paste from the Web includes the URL
• Notes can be searched whether typed or inked
• All resources for all classes are in one location

YouTube Direkt

While our Tablet students are generally quite comfortable using OneNote, many don’t realize that it also allows them to record and embed audio and video.  With an external microphone or webcam, the audio/video for a class can be captured and saved inside the lecture notes.  While it isn’t feasible to expect that all students will utilize this feature every day, it can be highly effective for auditory learners and/or those who struggle with listening while writing.

DyKnow

Many teachers use DyKnow to present material and make learning more interactive.  While OneNote places responsibility for audio/video recording on individual students, DyKnow offers teachers the option of recording their lecture for the entire class using the Audio Recorder feature.

Audio Recorder allows teachers to capture and synchronize audio with navigation and objects inside a DyKnow notebook.  The teacher can start or mute audio at any time during class, and the audio will be saved with the notebook for later review. It’s worth noting that the ink/text of each page (panel) in a DyKnow notebook can also be replayed, enabling students to see their notes recreated line-by-line.

HELPING STUDENTS LEARN

Ashley’s presentation provided a framework that flashcards, graphic organizers, and multimodal notes can support.  For any of these tools and techniques to be effective, however, students (1) must be made aware of them and (2) be taught how to use them.  As we begin the new trimester, I would encouage all of us to be mindful of how we can incorporate these ideas into the classroom; I’m sure our students will appreciate it.

Posted: 11|9|08 at 12:03 pm. Filed under: Applications, Tablet PC.
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