• Immediate Feedback Loop: 6th-grade students used Snorkl to practice multiplying decimals, utilizing instant feedback to refine their reasoning and achieve mastery through multiple attempts.
• Collaborative Culture: The technology fostered a supportive environment where organic discussions flourished and early finishers served as peer coaches for classmates.

I recently had the opportunity to facilitate and co-teach another demo lesson in a math class, this time with 6th grade students, that highlighted the power of immediate feedback in the classroom. We focused on the math concept of multiplying multi-digit numbers with decimals. The specific challenge for the day was solving 14.72 multiplied by 24. To guide the learning process, we used Snorkl, and the results were fantastic.

The expectation for the students was clear. They needed to solve the problem and, more importantly, explain the process they used to get there. We asked them to articulate four specific steps. First, they had to treat the figures as whole numbers. Second, they performed the multiplication as whole numbers. Third, they counted the total decimal places. Finally, they placed the decimal correctly in the answer. Students had the choice to either type out their reasoning or speak it, which provided great accessibility options for different types of learners. Many students chose to write out their work and thought process on paper before choosing to type or speak on Snorkl.

The lesson went very well because the technology acted as an active partner in the learning process. We prefaced the lesson explaining how doing math with Snorkl is going to feel like playing a video game with unlimited lives. If you make a mistake in this game, you learn from the mistake, and try again. Just like a video game.

After every attempt, Snorkl provided immediate feedback. This was a game changer. Students did not have to wait for the teacher and I to circulate the room to know if they were on the right track. They used the feedback to upscale their process and reasoning quickly. It encouraged them to make multiple attempts until they earned a perfect 4 out of 4 score. Kids didn’t want the bell to ring because they didn’t want to stop progressing towards a 4 out of 4. The teacher and I left the session open for them to continue later.

This structure created a vibrant classroom atmosphere. Organic conversations sprang up among students as they supported one another. The teacher and I found ourselves having robust conversations with individual students based specifically on the feedback they received from the platform. It shifted our roles from a graders to a facilitators.

To manage the pacing, early finishers were deputized as coaches. They helped classmates who had yet to earn their full score, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. As a reward for their hard work and support, students who earned a 4 out of 4, and assisted other classmates, received a “Patriot Buck”, which is the school currency for their PBIS program.

Given the success of this demo, the teacher plans to continue using Snorkl for independent math practice. The teacher is also excited to start adapting it for science class as well. It proved to be an excellent way to ensure every student received the guidance they needed to succeed.

This blog post was drafted with the help of Google Gemini to help organize and flesh out my thoughts and ideas regarding using Snorkl to provide timely student feedback in a math class. I also used NotebookLM to generate a brief audio overview, perfect for those who want to listen and learn on the go.

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