Do You Hear What I Hear?
I figured that was an appropriate title for a blog post this time of year - lol! Today, I am reviewing the HearAll Assessment Recorder from Learning Resources. This handy little machine will allow you to document your students' learning gains like you never have before! Have you ever thought about putting together a digital portfolio for your students? If you haven't, no worries. But if you are thinking about it, this would be a wonderful tool to allow you to put the records together super easy!
You can actually record up to FOUR hours worth of audio on this machine! And it has 4 microphones - one on each side - to be able to record voices clearly! You can play back the recordings for immediate formative assessment with students (I am thinking reading conferences) or you have the ability to download the files to save or send to parents or other stakeholders.
How about a way to record EXACTLY what students are doing at centers? Hmmmmm - interesting thought. :) You wouldn't have any he said/she said conversations.
Maybe when a sub is in the classroom to be able to monitor behavior? (Of course, if you are recording something when you aren't there, please make sure everyone who will be in the room, including administrators, clear that suggestion.)
I have successfully utilized recording devices to have students complete vocabulary tests verbally. These students fought tooth and nail about writing (they hated to even hold a pencil), and the point was to know that they knew the vocabulary words (NOT whether they could write them). So, I would send them to a corner with a list of their personalized vocabulary words of the week and they would quietly read the word, tell me the definition, and then use it in a sentence. I could then playback the "test" to score it, download the recordng as proof if needed, and enter the grade in the gradebook. No tears, I found out whether the content was learned, parents were happy, administrators were happy, and I was happy. Perfect!
How about using it for teachable moments in the hallway? Record another class coming down the hallway, and then yours. Compare and contrast exemplary behavior.
Personally, I adore the idea of recording students' fluency and accuracy results monthly and uploading the recording to a digital portfolio. You would be able to hear the changes from the beginning of the year until the end - and that would be magical! Not to mention, you would also be able to conference with the student one-on-one and play the recording back to have him or her listen to exactly what it sounds like and what it should sound like. Parents would also think it would be pretty cool to have a digital portfolio with scanned in student work, Power Points, slideshows, or other media that the child has created with some audio thrown in for good measure. Heck, the child could MC the slideshow of his or her work while it is running on the computer and you could place the audio track in! I know as a parent myself, I would LOVE to have a keepsake portfolio like that for my child from elementary school (who will be heading to college in a couple short years).
Ok, enough chatty chatting from me. Who wants to win one? What would YOU use your HearAll Assessment Recorder for? Check out the entry below and good luck from Learning Resources and The Organized Classroom Blog!
