What Are Plickers?
In a nutshell, a Plicker is a bit like a QR Code; a scannable image that stores information. On a Plicker, each side represents a letter...A, B, C or D.
In the classroom, each student can hold a Plicker and use it to respond to a question indicating their selection by holding the corresponding letter UPRIGHT. In the case below, this Plicker represents a student #1 responding with the letter B.
When students hold up their Plickers and you scan with a device running the Plicker app, (cellphone, tablet) the student response is recorded. What's super cool about this is it is NOT necessary to get close to each Plicker, you can scan multiple Plickers in seconds from the front of the room!!!
A GREAT Assessment Tool
The Plicker website (and app) allows you to build folders of questions that can be added to the Plicker Queue. Once a question resides in the Queue, it is visible by the app, can be projected via Liveview on a PC screen and can be scanned to collect student information.
The Plicker website also allows classes of students to be added by name (I assign student numbers 1, 2, 3, etc.) so you can use as an authentic assessment of individual student responses.
Plickers are FREE and printable from the Plicker website. It is NOT recommended that you laminate them as non-matte finished laminate generates a glare that makes scanning difficult.
Amazon offers pre-laminated Plickers with a Matte laminate finish for $20.00.
Plicker Hacks
Plickers are great as a 'ticket out the door' or 'exit slip' and this is where I find them most useful. Try these hacks for making it much easier to quickly integrate Plickers on a routine basis in your classroom.
#1. Use student numbers instead of names...spend MUCH less time entering data into the Plicker website.
#2. Provide each student with a paper Plicker. TAPE IT TO THE BACK OF THEIR AGENDA OR NOTEBOOK.
#3. Keep spare Plickers in the room on a Plicker Keeper for forgetful students (and for an attractive display!)
#4. Don't create set after set of questions if you only need to use Plickers as a quick ticket out the door. Create ONE set of generic questions (5 blank questions) and VERBALLY ask the students to respond. Scan their responses and view the data for an instant look at how the class is doing on concepts.
5. Worried about the VERBAL option only in number 4 above? Create the questions (and choices) in an attractive Google Slide instead of on the app. It's faster and MUCH easier than building them within the Plicker website.
Data driven instruction with positively pleasant Plicker performance,
