Thermometer Collaborative Check-In Keynote Activity

In our program, we are big believers in John Dewey, especially the idea that we learn from reflecting on experience. That means building in a great deal of activities to encourage reflection. This temperature gauge is a simple way to reflect on how the class as a whole, and learners individually are managing at a task, feeling on a social-emotional level, or just for fun!

The Skill Building

Depending on the level of learner knowledge, you may need to review some Keynote basics, like moving a shape, and typing/drawing a label on a shape. You might also need to review rules for collaboration (like not moving someone else's shape etc!).

The Activity

For a task completion check-in, I normally set this up by asking a question like:

• If the bottom of a thermometer was not even started, and the top was almost complete, how do you personally feel you are progressing at X task? or How do you feel your group is progressing at X task?

Depending on your class, you can give them time to consider before sharing a public link to the document, or if you have done the activity before, you could start right away.

If this was more a social-emotional check, I might ask the question as:

• If the bottom of a thermometer was not excited or interested, and the top was bursting with enthusiasm, where do you personally feel you are at?

If this was for fun, I might ask something like:

• If the bottom of a thermometer was Justin Bieber is the worst music ever produced and the top was Justin Bieber is a musical genius, where do you put your opinion?

Options for in-person learning without 1:1 devices:

• You can project the slide on the board and have students right their names where they would situate their response.

The Takeaways

This can lead to good discussions about the results and inform what needs to be taught next, or space to review. It also can gauge interest and generate excitement.

Possible Extensions:

• Use a different shape and make it number line instead of a thermometer
• Have learners write an explanation as to why they have assessed their answer at that point
• Use a discussion protocol (pair and share or similar) to have learners discuss their response or find partners with similar responses

Other Resources:

• Collaborate with Keynote on iPad

Attachments

Thermometer Check In.key

Download  (362.5 KB)