Plickers

Do you love to use technology with your students?  Are you looking for something new?  I use Plickers (www.plickers.com).  With plickers, all you need is a computer/laptop, LCD Projector, and a tablet/phone.  The kids just use a card with a code on it.

What do you do?

• Create your account.
• Download and print the student cards.
• I printed them on cardstock and laminated them.  Then I put plastic labels with the student's names on the back to make it easy to distribute.
• I saw on Pinterest that a teacher printed them and adhered them to the front of their journals.  This way there is nothing to distribute.
• Download the Plickers app on a phone or tablet.
• Go to Classes.
• Click on Add New Class.
• Complete the profile and click Save.
• Type in Students' names and hit Enter.
• A number will be assigned to that student.
• Go to Library.
• Create your questions by clicking on New Question.  I create folders for each topic (i.e. Number Systems, Scientific Method, etc.)
• Multiple Choice or True/False.
• Don't forget to select the correct answer.
• When you're ready to run the program:
• Click on the little calendar.
• Click on Add to Queue.
• Select the class that you want to answer the questions.
• You will have to do this for each question.
• When you're done, you're ready to present the questions to the class.
• To present to the class, click on Live View.
• Open the Plickers App on your device and hit Scan.
• The questions will display on the LCD Projector.
• Students hold up their card.  The direction of their card depends on their answer.  If they want their answer to be "B", then "B" must be at the top of their card.
• Scan all students cards with your device.
• The help page has a ton of information if you need help too.

This is a great way to integrate technology into the classroom when the students don't have technology.  Only the teacher needs the technology.  You may want to practice with a colleague or two before trying it in front of students, so you can work out the kinks.  Good luck!