The awesomeness of GradeCam

I went to a workshop earlier in the summer and overheard some teachers talking about a great new online program called GradeCam.  It is a grading system where you can print out bubble style answer sheets and then when it is time to grade the assignment, you simply hold up the answer sheet to your document camera, laptop camera or iPad and it instantly puts the grade in the computer and gives you any data you could possibly want.

I have never once given a multiple choice test in my class, so I wasn't sure if this program would work for me, but then I found out that you can use a rubric for the answer sheet.  That works perfectly for how I do my playing tests!  Every 2 weeks, I have students perform for me alone in front of the class.  I grade students using a rubric.  Using a rubric style grading sheet from GradeCam, I added the bubble form to my grading rubric and now can scan those super quick into the computer after each test.  What I like about it is the data analysis feature.  Our school district is requiring a lot of data comparison as we implement SLO's (Student Learning Objectives) this year.  When I use this program, I can easily get all the data I need and track student progress.

Sign up for GradeCam for free right here: www.gradecam.com/signup?referrer=xxata4

Need help setting up GradeCam for your playing tests?  Read my step-by-step instructions HERE!!!

Here is how I adjusted my playing test form to be compatible with GradeCam:
Students will fill in their own GradeCam ID number - which is just their lunch number so they will already have it memorized.  You can find tutorials at GradeCam.com that explain how to import your classes and student ID numbers.  The bubble sheet below is aligned with my grading sheet.  I only have to fill in the number that corresponds to the score I give the student in each section.  I set up the grading so that points will be awarded based on the number I mark and then multiplyed by 2 (since I like to have my playing tests worth more points).

(This form is available for download HERE.)

It really only took me an hour or so to play around with GradeCam and figure it out.  Start by creating an assignment (you may choose multiple choice or a rubric style).  Mark the key on the computer and then print a blank answer sheet.  Look at the sample class provided on GradeCam and use that number for the student id while you are experimenting.  Then mark some answers and hold the sheet up to your camera on your computer or ipad (where-ever you are logged into GradeCam) and DING --- it grades just like that - super easy and fast!

Check out my next post about GradeCam:  http://orchestrateacher.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-to-use-gradecam-for-your-playing.html