ISTE

Actively Engaged in Language Learning with ActivExpression

toc == =Overview =

**ActivExpression** is a Learner Response System (LRS) that is used in conjunction with **ActivInspire** software for use with Interactive White Boards (IWB). In our classroom, we use a hand-held ActivExpression system in conjunction with a Promethean Board. Over the past two years, students have been __extremely__ motivated by being able to use these tools. Our goals are to demonstrate how to use this particular LRS for: Formative assessments, practice activities, surveys, and self-paced activities. In addition, we will show a variety of formats in which ActivExpression is used: Multiple choice, true/ false, sequencing, and text response.

**Objectives** 1. To learn a variety of practical strategies in using Learning Response Systems 2. To be able to see **ActivExpression** in use 3. To experiment with creating activities 4. To ask questions and brainstorm ideas for classroom implementation 5. To have an online resource tool when back in the classroom

= = Visual Examples

This activity was used with the novel that 6th grade Spanish students read. Each slide provided a situation, and every student used the ActivExpression to vote if we followed prompt A or prompt B.
 * ~ [[image:tagul width="226" height="226" align="left"]] ||~  ||
 * = === Choose Your Own Ending (Multiple Choice) [[image:ChooseEnding.png width="408" height="299" align="left"]]=== || **DESCRIPTION:**

**LEARNING OBJECTIVE:** The students will read and answer the Spanish prompts based on their prior knowledge of vocabulary from the novel __Pobre Ana__.

**RESOURCES:** || ** DESCRIPTION: ** The Spanish Verb Conjugation Trainer website provides a random subject pronoun and verb pairing. Using the **ActivExpression** or ActivEngage the students need to conjugate the verb correctly. //The only set-up in ActivInspire is using ExpressPoll for text.//
 * PDF file
 * Story Summary ||
 * = ===** Conjugate That! (Text) **===

** LEARNING OBJECTIVE: ** The students will conjugate the verb correctly for the provided subject and verb.

** RESOURCES: **
 * Spanish Verb Conjugation Trainer website
 * [[file:Conjugate This Game.flipchart]] ||
 * = ===** What's the Weather Like? (Text) **===

||= **DESCRIPTION:** Given a city, the students need to find the weather. They can either text Google (466453) or check Weather.com. They need to translate and submit the weather forecast into Spanish using our weather vocabulary phrases on **ActivEngage**. Once submitted, the phrases will be divided on board so we can edit the incorrect phrases as a class.

**LEARNING OBJECTIVE:** The students will be able to use a variety of appropriate weather phrases to describe the weather.

**RESOURCES:**
 * @http://www.weather.com
 * http://www.watbot.co.uk/ria/wxforecast/
 * [[file:Weather Chart.flipchart]] ||
 * = ===** Pick the Correct Direct Object (Multiple Choice) **[[image:DOP.png width="399" height="340" align="left"]]=== || ** DESCRIPTION: **

A noun is said or the image of an object is shown. The students select the correct **DOP** (Direct Object Pronoun) to replace the object.

** LEARNING OBJECTIVE: **

The students will replace the object withe the correct Spanish direct object pronoun. ||
 * === **Self-Assessment (Texting)** ===

|| ** DESCRIPTION: ** After a formative assessment on ar/er/ir verbs in the present tense, 7th grade students had to answer the following questions. They discussed their answers to question 1 with other students in their group. Then they texted in their responses to question 2 using the ActivExpression.

** LEARNING OBJECTIVE: ** The students will identify and correctly use common regular ar, er, and ir verbs in present tense.

** RESOURCES: ** Here are the responses from one 7th grade class: ||

|| ** DESCRIPTION: ** The students see a math problem written as words in Spanish. They have to solve the problem and submit the correct answer on the ActivExpression (as digits).
 * ** Math in the Target Language **

An alternative just using the **ExpressPoll** function. The teacher or a student says a number in Spanish. The students have to submit the digits that they heard.

** LEARNING OBJECTIVE: ** The students will identify the correct number in Spanish based on visual or auditory clues.


 * RESOURCES: **
 * [[file:Numbers Hundreds.flipchart]] ||
 * ===** Stations Activity: Self-Paced Questions **[[image:activexpression_stations_iste.jpg width="419" height="310"]]=== || ** DESCRIPTION: ** Stations activities were utilized during a review of the present tense in 8th grade Spanish 2 classes. At the **ActivExpression** station, students had to answer the questions that appeared on their device's screen. The questions were randomized, and if students answered incorrectly the questions were repeated. Hiding the response window on the teacher computer allowed the Promethean Board to be used for a __different__ station.

** LEARNING OBJECTIVE: ** The students will complete each sentence using the correct form of the verb in present tense.


 * RESOURCES: **

[[file:irregular yo self paced questions settings.pdf]]
|| During our unit on school, students had to match the vocabulary item with its corresponding graphic.
 * ** Label the Parts (Text, Numeric, or Multiple Choice) ** [[image:parts_of_computer_iste.png width="397" height="292"]] || ** DESCRIPTION: **

Option 1: Numeric/ Multiple Choice ~ The teacher reads a statement using the vocabulary, and the students type the correct number.

Option 2: Text ~ Students type in the parts of the computer

** LEARNING OBJECTIVE: **

The students will identify common school-related tools. ||

=Express Poll: A How-To Guide =

media type="youtube" key="JRpFK18Ly4c?version=3" height="317" width="389"

=Ideas from ISTE Participants =

media type="custom" key="9857975" rss url="http://www.iste2011.org/forum/topics/actively-engaged-in-language-1" link="true" number="20" date="true" author="true"

media type="custom" key="9858027"
 * Research **

"94% of participants described Activexpression as an ‘effective’ tool for assessing students. The devices were also used to share ideas and stimulate discussion,demonstrating Activexpression’s flexibility in the classroom"
 * Promethean: A Great Response

The research shows that both the teachers and the students felt that clickers increased engagement and participation.
 * Student Response Systems: A University of Wisconsin System Study of Clickers

Surveyed students to see if they felt the student response system made the course more challenging, more engaging, enhanced learning, made the lecture more motivational, and/or made the lecture more relevant to 'real world' problems. The follow up question had the students surveyed discuss additional issues that might impact the effectiveness of the system. The results were revealing.
 * A Student Response System for Increasing Engagement, Motivation, and Learning in High Enrollment Lectures


 * Teaching with student response systems in elementary and secondary education settings: A survey study

"After hearing the same 30-min psychology lecture, participants in the clicker group had the highest classroom participation, followed by the response card group,both of which were significantly higher than the hand-raising group. Participants in the clicker group also reported greater positive emotion during the lecture and were more likely to respond honestly to in-class review questions.
 * Benefits of Electronic Audience Response Systems in Student Participation, Learning, and Emotion

Interview with professors explaining why they decided to switch to a SRS and the benefits of doing so.
 * Assessment and Student Response Systems

**DESCRIPTION:** <span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: left; top: 610px; width: 1px;">This was a choose your own ending activity for the novel the students read in 6th grade Spanish. Each slide provided a situation and all the students used the ActivExpression to vote if we followed prompt A or prompt B.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: left; top: 610px; width: 1px;">**LEARNING OBJECTIVE:** <span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: left; top: 610px; width: 1px;">**RESOURCE DOWNLOADS** <span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: left; top: 610px; width: 1px;">FlipChar <span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: left; top: 610px; width: 1px;">PDF fil <span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: left; top: 610px; width: 1px;">Story Summary