Do you use EdTech tools to embed questions in lessons? If you’ve spent time with me at a workshop or virtually on a webinar, you know that formative assessment is a frequent topic in my presentations. There are many ways to check for understanding, and I have an entire chapter dedicated to the essential “Assess”” in my book, EdTech Essentials: 12 Strategies for Every Classroom in the Age of AI, 2nd Edition.
So, you might imagine that when I try out different EdTech tools, formative assessment is on my mind. Interactive teaching tools are an indispensable part of creating engaging and effective learning environments. Tools that allow teachers to embed questions within lessons offer a more interactive and personalized learning experience. They give teachers access to real-time data they can take action on right away.
Today on the blog, we’ll look at five tools that let teachers embed questions. These aren’t the only EdTech apps and websites that aid in formative assessment, but they do offer you a great way to get started.
5 Tools That Let Teachers Embed Questions
Let’s dive into the list of five tools that empower educators to embed questions into their lessons!
Edpuzzle
Edpuzzle is a favorite of many educators who first explored this tool during pandemic teaching and distance learning. It was a game-changer for educators seeking to incorporate video content into their lessons. This platform allows teachers to take any video, whether from YouTube, Khan Academy, or their own creation, and embed questions directly into the video.
When students are learning at their own pace or engaging with content differentiated for their needs, Edpuzzle is a great choice. Students can engage with the material by answering questions in real -time as they watch a video. Teachers can then view Edpuzzle’s analytics with insights into students’ understanding. Not only can you gather information, but you can plan targeted follow-up and instruction, too.
Nearpod
I’ve been a fan of Nearpod for over a decade and used it as a classroom teacher myself. It’s a super versatile tool, and you can use it to create new lessons or make your older content more interactive. Nearpod is one of my favorite formative assessment tools to share with educators when I lead a workshop on strategies for checking for understanding.
With Nearpod, teachers can embed questions into slides, videos, and even virtual field trips. You can watch in real-time as students draw a response to a question and track their responses to polls, quizzes, and open-ended responses. And if you use Padlet, you’ll love their Collaborate Board feature. It feels like you are embedding a Padlet board right in the middle of your lesson.
Curipod
Curipod has gotten a lot of attention this year, and if you’ve attended one of my keynote presentations, then you’ve probably seen it flash on the screen. This is an AI-powered tool that I’ve included on past blog roundups, including:
- 17 Exciting AI Websites for Teachers
- 9 Teacher Tools You Need for Your Next Presentation
- 4 Types of AI Tools Every Teacher Should Know About
Curipod is a tool that leverages generative Artificial Intelligence to help you create an interactive slide-based presentation. You put in a few details about what you are teaching students and the grade level you are working with. Then, it gives you a presentation to modify or tweak for your group. There are lots of options on how to customize this learning experience for students, including embedding questions for them to answer. There is even a word cloud activity to try out, too.
Lumio
Regular readers of the blog might remember Lumio. It’s a favorite interactive tool that lets teachers embed questions for students right into a lesson. I even had a chance to chat with SMART Technologies’ communities manager and educator, Kacie Germadnik, all about their collaborative features. You can check out the episode on your favorite podcast app by heading to this dedicated page on the site, “Quick Ways to Boost Collaboration in Your Next Lesson – Bonus Episode with Lumio,” or press play below.
Lumio lets teachers embed questions into any lesson to create an interactive experience. Whether you want students to respond to a quick question or work together with a partner, there are lots of options built into this tool. If you want to learn a bit more about Lumio, you might also want to check out this blog post, “Maximize Every Student Device with a Lumio Lesson.”
BookWidgets
BookWidgets is another EdTech tool I’ve spotlighted on the blog in the past. Here are a few posts to go deeper into what this platform has to offer:
- How to Use Digital Rubrics with Students
- 10 Question Types to Try in an Interactive Quiz
- How to Use a Video Quiz for Interactive Learning
With BookWidgets, you can create interactive exercises and games that can be embedded directly into lessons. There are dozens of different widgets to choose from including quizzes, crosswords, timelines, and more. If you want to gather real-time formative assessment data, BookWidgets will let you place these interactive experiences right in the hands of students.
Helping Teachers Embed Questions
Tools that allow teachers to embed questions into lessons make it easier to gather actionable formative assessment data. Of course, you are in the driver’s seat to create questions that will give you strong information. You’ll want to decide when the best time is for a poll or open-ended response. And you can choose when you want students to submit a drawing as part of their response.
As you explore different ways to leverage digital tools in your classroom, these five are worthy of your consideration. Each one has useful features that help teachers embed questions into their instructional routines. Do you have a favorite I missed from the list? Sign up for my weekly email newsletter below (it’s free) and respond to Monday’s message with a favorite tool I should add to our next roundup!
