Socrative, The Tool for Quiz

Introduction

Socrative is an “authoring software/program” (Walker and White, 2013, p. 3) in which a teacher can create a bank of questions such as multiple choice, true or false and short answer questions as required to run online quiz. I have termed it an authoring program for it allows teacher to create tasks for teaching and learning using his/her own creative ideas that best fits in his/her own context.

It is a free online tool particularly to create the quiz, which can be used essentially for evaluating students’ memorization and understanding. Since Socrative allows students to work in a team in finding the correct option/answer during the quiz, it also promotes collaborative practice in learners. The instant feedback on each question helps learners know the reasons for right/wrong answers that they provide. It can be particularly used in primary to secondary grades in a form of language game. However, it can be equally used while teaching language to adult learners. 

What do we require

Learners in a group require either smart phones or some other devices like tab/iPad/laptop/desktop computers to supply answers. As regards smart phones, Walker and White (2013) mention, “Cellphone networks are cheaper and easier to build and this, … has increased the reach of the internet” (p. 175). Since Socrative can be easily run in smartphones, the commonly available electronic tools, this software seems quite feasible to be used in language classroom. A classroom, in which Socrative is being used, can be equipped with a multimedia projector and the computer to display their progress on the screen. However, it is not mandatory. The only positive aspect of projecting their immediate progress on screen is this activity can make them feel more motivated and bear little positive anxiety to work in collaboration, think and supply the correct answers.

What can be dealt with through Socrative

Since Socrative runs in the form of quiz using multiple choice, true/false and short answer questions, it can be used to teach particularly grammar and vocabulary. It can be further extended to teach language functions and other topics. This depends on the way a teacher formulates the quiz items.  He/she also can add picture to the questions to make them more explanatory or to frame a question related to pictures. He/she can import quizzes from the online Socrative stack too. Byrne (2014) states Socrative has “the ability to share quizzes with colleagues and import quizzes that are shared with you.” So, yes, we can import the quiz questions already created by some other contributors. It has a repository of 3000 plus quiz so far.

The Process

It is easy to create quiz questions. I hope the following screen capture video created by this blogger may help you to create your own quiz. Moreover, you may download this pdf tutorial version of socrative and go through for further details.

Advantages

• This is a free tool, in which teachers can create multiple set of quizzes to use in the language classroom.
• It is an effective tool to promote collaborative work as it helps to form groups in the quizzes.
• Learners can get instant feedback through the description that has been added to each question by the teacher.
• It is easy to create and use any time if there is internet connection.
• The teachers can create their own repository of quiz questions and retrieve it any time in the future.
• The repository that the teachers create is editable so it can be revised as necessity at any time in future.

Limitations

• Only fifty students can participate in a one go in the Socrative free version. In case it is planned to use in a relatively large classroom, that exceeds 50, the user needs to by the upgraded version of Socrative.
• All groups need to have devices such as smart phone/ tab/iPad/computer to participate in it.
• Using all devices at once may not function in some context if the internet bandwidth is low and single source.
• This game is particularly designed to test memorization and understanding as opposed to creativity and critical thinking.

I hope this post will help you to get some ideas about Socrative. Your critical  and valuable comments are highly appreciated.

References

Byrne, R. (2014, October 28). Free technology for teachers [web log]. Retrieved from http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/10/access-more-than-1000-socrative-quizzes.html#.WIRmL2Uy3FI

Walker, A. & White, G. (2013). Technology enhanced language teaching: Connecting theory and practice. Oxford: OUP.