10 Engaging Ways to Use iPads for Exit Tickets

Exit tickets are a quick and easy way to assess student learning in the classroom. By using them at the end of our lessons, we know if we need to reteach a few students, a group of students, or maybe go about the lesson again in a new way. On the other hand, we also know if students are demonstrating proficiency and are then ready to be challenged with more rigorous instruction or projects. The information we gain by using an exit ticket is invaluable to all teachers.

Traditionally, exit tickets are a post it, an index card, a tally on a clipboard, or even a simple thumbs up/down. But... they can be so much more!

Here are 10 engaging ways to use an iPad to create a useful exit ticket.

1. Camera. The camera is a useful and often overlooked tool because it's not an "app" that we seek out. Cameras can capture students modeling a skill or task, they can capture an illustration drawn by students, or a specific area or place. Students can then post their images to a classroom blog (check out Edublog), Dropbox, or Instagram. From here, students can discuss, debate, analyze or explain the other photos in the classroom. To challenge students, you might even allow other groups to explain why another image is relevant instead of allowing the photographer to explain themselves.

2. Geddit. Teachers can set up check in questions that can be shared with students at any time to informally assess their understanding. This is perfect for exit tickets and more periodic check-ins throughout the lesson. Students can also be asked to check in with Geddit and simply rate their level of comfort with the material being presented at any given point during a lesson with just a click of the app. The teacher, then, can see an overview of how the class is doing and make decisions about whether the group is ready to move on or not. All of the information collected on Geddit can be exported into an Excel template and saved or shared at a later date.

3. Kahoot! Kahoot! provides a game-based approach to assessing student knowledge. The teacher sets up a review game with multiple choice answers. When students access the review from their device, it acts like a buzzer. As the teacher goes through each of the questions, students buzz in and earn points for both accuracy and speed. The top 5 scores are shown on the main screen for additional motivation, however all student scores are collected for the teacher to analyze and use.

4. Vine. Have students create a vine to capture what they know in a video in 6.5 seconds or less. They can be silly, serious, or simple. Kids love having choices in the way they express themselves.

5. Twitter. Twitter is a great way for students to capture a succinct main idea for what was learned that day. Since you are only allowed 140 characters, it's a great way to narrow your focus into the main idea. Create a classroom Twitter page so that each student is able to share with you directly.

6. Blabberize. This silly app allows students to choose an avatar (like a camel, for instance) and then record themselves speaking about the main idea of the day's lesson or an answer to a proposed question. The app then uses the voice to make the avatar talk. It's hilarious, fun, and to the point.

7.  Today's Meet. Any back channel app is great for ongoing conversation within a classroom, however, students are also able to discuss and participate with eachother as part of an exit ticket. Teachers have control over when these discussions take place and you can even save the discussions for analyzing later on.

8. Padlet. Padlet is an online cork board. Teachers can propose questions and students can post their answer to Padlet. Since the background can be customized, you can use Padlet as a KWL, a calendar, or even assign everyone's name or picture to a grid. Students can then save their thinking to their own square on the Padlet board for a quick assessment of who has participated and who has not. (See image attached.)

9. Blend Space. Blend Space is an online portfolio, which could serve as a mini assessment or a more detailed show of a student's work. Students can add many different types of media, labels, text, etc to share what they know about a topic or theme.

10.  Educreations. Educreations is a great tool for allowing students to show what they know. They can literally become the teacher by writing on the "white board" screen and recording their voice. The lesson can be saved and sent to the teacher as an exit slip. (These same videos also serve as wonderful reteaching centers which are being taught, then, by peers instead of the teacher!)