A new system for the classroom - your thoughts?

[Ticklo]

A team of students are currently in the process of developing a browser-delivered application called Ticklo which is an App that can be used both in the classroom and at home, by schools, parents and tutors. It challenges each student with questions and provides help if needed. Most importantly, it tracks their progress and their level of learning in real time, so the teacher can view how difficult pupils are finding the questions; which will be generated to suit each pupil individually.

 

The admin (e.g. teacher) will experience easy lesson planning, minimum marking and easy homework setting. They will be able to view infographics for each pupil, to see where they may be struggling and where they are excelling. From this, mentoring systems and pupil reports can be created and teachers will be able to give more ticks to their students.

 

The basic concept is that students can undertake questions specifically tailored to their personal ability thereby attaining better competency overall and not progressing to new, more difficult topics until they have a full grasp of the previous topics. In terms of homework setting teachers are able to provide customised homeworks for each student specifically giving them practise in the areas where they need it. This would massively reduce time wasted marking as detailed infographics on students' performances, both in school and at home, can give staff a complete breakdown of questions and responses at both an individual and class level to quickly see where students are struggling. For example, if in a class test most students took 5 seconds longer to answer multiplication questions with a 7 in then staff can structure their lesson plans to correct this and help the class progress.

 

 

The project is still in its early stages so any thoughts and/or feedback would be very much appreciated. The team just came second nationally in the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition with this application and came top of the World Citizenship category. For more information visit the website www.ticklo.com

[Steve21]

Sounds cool, but the first bit I read on the website worries me

 

"Ticking Learning Objectives Using Microsoft Windows 8 With Interactive Tablet PC Applications" Pretty much ruled the app out of all mainstream schools currently if you are doing Windows 8 apps, rather than browser based? (Website/Post seems to say opposites).

 

How's it work in terms of storing data? Is it all server side, or will it be locally?

 

Thanks,

Steve

[pete]

Yeah, you've developed an app on a platform that most people & schools don't have. Given your director bios specifically mention Android development, Google testing and a Chromebook pilot programme, your choice of the least-popular platform is odd.

 

What options for data export (to say SIMS marksheets) are you planning to incorporate?

[Ticklo]

Thank you for pointing that out. That is in fact an error, the project does also have a Windows 8 specific version but the main thrust of the project is cross-platform. I shall remedy this now.

 

In terms of data storage the vast majority will be server-side, as will a lot of the data processing, enabling even antiquated clients to run the application.

 

We are currently discussing with schools what they would like to see in an application like this and a few have mentioned SIMS so it's something we're looking into. Do your schools have any other internal data systems you'd like to see supported in some form, for example ePortal or RM packages?

 

Thank you for your feedback.

 

Joshua Creek