What is SlINGBiT
Slingbit employs an advanced algorithm that affords differentiated instruction and adaptive learning to a wide range of learning profiles across a K-12 math curricula. Slingbit offers online math courses that are carefully organized and sequenced into units of study containing instructional videobits, interactive notes named textbits and adaptive quizbits. Each week, students are assigned learning goals to work towards by completing a range of learning activities and are continually assessed on a range of competencies and skills.
In the following example, students are assigned a learning goal of solving two step equations with parentheses. Students attempt to complete a series of quizbits building upon their understanding of solving equations algebraically. Student struggling with a particular skill are guided towards an instructional videobit, an interactive textbit, or a series of hints to guide them through a particular example. In order to complete a particular quizbit, a student needs to answer 5 questions in a row correctly before being presented with the subsequent skill.
How is SlINGBiT customizable?
The three types of web tools, quizbits, textbits and videobits, are entirely customizable to meet any particular curricular objective. Educators have access to a full library of pre-existing and peer-created web tools which are evaluated both quantitatively, using a 5-star rating system, and qualitatively through user comments. Web tools are organized into units of learning within the Slingbit Learning Management System that allows teachers to effortlessly monitor student progress. Units of learning are currently matched to the BC, Ontario, Alberta, MYP, and Common Core curricula with future curricular ties slated for the future.
Teachers invite students to the LMS by sharing a unique classroom code and select the desired curriculum they wish their students to follow. After a curriculum and the course start and end dates have been selected, the LMS automatically proposes a schedule of learning activities for the teacher to assign. The teacher may change, modify or reorder the assigned tasks at any time to best suit their learner’s needs or curricular objectives. Additionally, the LMS may suggest additional skills for certain individual students or for the class at large based on prior student performance. Teachers always maintain the prerogative to omit or add types of questions to quizbits to ensure prescribed learning outcomes are appropriately assessed. By using the built in intuitive coding software, teachers are able to easily create unique quizbits from which Slingbit is able to generate an infinite number of question possibilities. With permission from the author, Slingbit will gradually circulate peer-created quizbits into the library of general content for other students to try and rate. A peer-review system will ensure that the quality of the peer-created content continually meets the high Slingbit standard.
How do SlINGBiT assessments work?
Slingbit aims to facilitate frequent formative assessment of student understanding so that the teacher’s time and effort can be best spent on instruction, planning and supporting individual learning. The Slingbit algorithm is able to analyse individual student performance and make recommendations on what skills require greater practice in order optimize learning. Likewise, the teacher dashboard not only provides a summary of student performance and level of engagement, but also provides teachers with real-time recommendations on how to best support learning in the classroom. Some sample recommendations include:
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Matt S. is struggling with: Adding fractions.
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Diego P. has been inactive for 10 minutes.
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42% of the class is struggling with: Calculating the slope between two points.
The Slingbit LMS is also able to host secure summative assessments. The secure assessment feature prevents students from navigating away from the online assessment until they have successfully submitted the assessment or entered a unique 8-digit exit code provided by the teacher. The secure feature can be modified to grant students access to specific websites during the assessment.
The assessment feature also allows teachers to assign the students a) the same questions, b) the same questions with different values or c) a unique set of questions that are specifically tailored to the student’s level of prior achievement and zone of proximal development. The adaptive feature allows assessments to best reflect the degree to which the student has met the expectations of the assigned learning goals.
After each assessment, the teacher is provided with both an individual and holistic report detailing the students' level of understanding. Additionally, teachers are recommended next steps that detail how to best support the needs of their class according to the results from the assessment. Sample recommendations include:
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37% off the class holds the misconception that a common denominator needs to found in order to multiply fractions.
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95% of students are able to Solve 1 and 2 step equations. Consider introducing Equations with parentheses and Equations with variables on both sides.
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Samantha T. and Ray W. continue to struggles with Collecting like terms.
Ultimately, Slingbit prides itself with providing teachers real-time data and suggestions based on student performance so that teachers can make informed decisions on how best support math instruction in their classroom.