Math teacher Casey Dabney, has embraced a teaching method that has been shared in other schools. This teaching style uses the app “Kahoot!” to play review quizzes before tests, quizzes, and other graded assignments.
“I wouldn’t say it’s ‘new’. My style is more of a friendly conversation. I want my students to be comfortable and I want them to be a contributing part of a positive environment. I want them to be proud of their accomplishments. It’s not just about learning, it’s about enjoying the process and being a good person,” Dabney said in an e-mail interview.
The incorporation of technology and music are the most influential parts of her current style. She uses remotes and they give her the classes’ results instantly.
“I like to play ‘Kahoots!’ and use the IXL.com interactive website so students get engaged and receive immediate feedback. I also like playing music, although I’m sad that Pandora got blocked,” Dabney said.
This app is fun and easy to use. It takes a regular practice exercise and transforms it to a digital game. “Kahoot!” Allows the class to be fully engaged with the lesson and the teacher. No two people can learn exactly the same way.
“The truth is, different students are attracted to different styles of teaching. I am only one person. I can’t be the best and accommodate every single style and student everyday. I try to do a little of it all, but sometimes its impossible. It gets really difficult as class sizes increase. The more students there are, the more diverse their needs and preferred styles are. I’m just going to keep trying to do my best even if I know sometimes it’s just not enough with only one me,” Dabney said.
Not only is Dabney giving her students a chance to experience learning in a new style, she’s also teaching her students about the real world by being a bit tougher on her students.
“Grades have gotten tougher but more accurate on students’ actual knowledge. I used to give students way too many opportunities and spoon fed a little too much. Not everything in life is going to be handed to you. Students have to work harder to earn grades in my class this year. Opportunities are still there but goals are harder to reach. I will always give opportunity, but I do not give grades. They must be earned,” Dabney said.
An advantage to using this app rather than a paper pencil quiz is that it engages the class to be more active. The app helps students and explains each question. On a regular quiz, students often get bored, tired or simply inactive. Using this app does wake students and keeps them entertained.
“When we use “Kahoot!” It’s like extra review, but it’s a fun way of reviewing. We all want to participate so we end up getting the extra bit of practice that we need before a test of quiz,” sophomore Emma Thomas said.
From using this app, Dabney’s students have shown more effort; they work harder and participate more.
“I’ve noticed that some of my students have worked harder this year. There is more pride in their accomplishments. And when retaining information is a struggle, there’s normally a small key word or phrase or memory that we can call upon and the brain reconnects to that information or lesson,” Dabney said.
In the future, Dabney will continue to use this app and so will many other math teachers. Math teacher, Megan Cashing, and others have already started sharing this app with many of their classes.
