When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical) and virtual (i.e. online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will describe how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction and the mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post we will continue our discussion on how students in a Judaic Studies blended learning classroom can use Wiffiti to poll students and gain instantaneous formative (ongoing) feedback.
Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has a interactive white board (i.e. SMART Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access to their own laptop computers or Ipads. Given parental and school approval, and the development of specific guidelines, smartphones can be used to enhance instruction as well.
Note: Although Wiffiti can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning classroom, it can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of practice, a CoP, a group of people who share an interest, a craft, and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of instruction and training of Jewish educators. For example, here is a CoP you might want to join.
Note: Wiffiti can be used in both a formal and informal Jewish learning environment.
What is Wiffiti?
Wiffiti is a web-based polling and student response feedback tool that empower users (i.e. teachers, students, staff developers and others) to gather opinions, collect votes, display and share results of an assessment.
Where is Wiffiti located on the web?
Why would a teacher, staff developer or student want to use a web polling or student response system tool?
- to share websites related to specific Judaic content
- to text message about Judaic learning
- to obtain feedback about the curriculum
- to make decisions
- to assess the merit of an idea, activity, decision, etc.
- to collect data for research
- to share the results of a survey, questionnaire, or other assessment format
Demonstration of how Wiffiti can be used in a Judaic Studies physical or virtual classroom
Click here an see an example of how Wiffiti might be utilized in a Judaic Studies blended learning classroom.
On the next post we will share additional polling and student response system or feedback web tools.
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