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New Feature Proposal: Grammar marks
Teachers have requested that EssayTagger add support for marking grammar errors. Here's how I'm thinking of doing it.Update 1/7/13:The Error Mark feature has been built and is now released! Read about...
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Ug, how can we solve anything if we confuse correlation with causation?
The headline reads: "School Absences Translate to Lower Test Scores, Study Says".If you ain't in school, ya ain't gonna learn. That's obvious. But this article from Sarah D. Sparks implies...
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Latest Update: Error marking!
Thanks to input from our users we now support a dedicated feature for marking spelling, grammar, or other errors. But this new feature is more than just a red underline. Read on to learn...
View ArticleSystem alert: Partial system outage - resolved
FINAL UPDATE 5:31pmThe last lingering effects of the Google App Engine server problems seem to have been cleared up and our own testing now shows full functionality restored.This sort of downtime is...
View ArticleUsing EssayTagger for fast formative assessment, pt1
In part one we'll quickly review what formative assessment is and some of its key characteristics. Then we'll learn how to use EssayTagger for fast, effective formative assessment."The giving of marks...
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Using EssayTagger for fast formative assessment, pt2
In part two we explore a method for fast, effective formative assessment by leveraging EssayTagger's strengths and incredible built-in data reporting.Part one: Primer on formative assessmentPart two:...
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Latest update: Six-level rubric support
Thanks to teacher feedback, EssayTagger rubrics can now have up to six possible quality levels.I had previously limited rubrics to a max of five quality levels mostly due to practical constraints;...
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Latest update: Rubric descriptors now integrated into the grading app
We differentiate rubric "descriptors" that are designed to set performance expectations vs feedback comments that promote student growth. Long overdue, your rubric descriptors are now integrated into...
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Yes!! EssayTagger on your iPad!
EssayTagger's patent pending interactive grading app is built in Flash and works great in any web browser. However, Steve Jobs decided years ago that Apple would not to support Flash on iOS devices...
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Grading with EssayTagger on your iPad via Photon browser
Today we discovered that the EssayTagger grading app can run on an iPad with a little help! Here are your step-by-step instructions for accessing EssayTagger through the Photon browser.Install Photon...
View ArticleUsing EssayTagger to coordinate PLT assessments, pt1
It's becoming more and more important to coordinate curriculum and assessment within PLT teacher teams. In part one we'll briefly discuss PLTs, motivate why coordination is so important, and discuss...
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Using EssayTagger to coordinate PLT assessments, pt2
Part 1: PLTs must have common assignments and common assessmentsPart 2: How to coordinate PLTs with EssayTaggerPart 3: Analyzing the data reports (coming soon)In part two we show you a simple way to...
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Yep, we really are global!
I have a handful of friends who speak Arabic so we'll see what they have to say about this blog post. But, needless to say, I find it pretty dang cool!Something I created was noticed on the other side...
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Check out grmr.me and stop endlessly re-teaching grammar!
EssayTagger is all about helping teachers give efficient, targeted feedback to their students. However, the feedback you give and the remediation methods you employ are still all up to you.So I was...
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Latest update: Google apps and Drive integration is here!!
Today's major new release enables student sign-in via Google apps accounts and integration with Google Drive!Just about every school I talk to has jumped onto the Google apps bandwagon. It's really a...
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How to enable Google integration in EssayTagger
Student sign-in via Google apps accounts and Google Drive integration were released today as "beta" features that are ready for broader, real-world testing. If you'd like to try it out with your...
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Where we're headed: school-wide data unification
EssayTagger was initially developed as a tool to help individual teachers. Now we're taking aim at unifying all writing assessment data across an entire school or district. Here's why this is valuable...
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Latest update: Support for iPad Pages documents!
Getting any file off of an iPad and out into the world can be a challenge, but Pages makes life more difficult because it uses a unique document format that is not very compatible with other programs....
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Latest Update: Administrator Report emails
A simple new convenience feature driven by teacher feedback from my friends at El Camino Real Charter High School out in sunny southern California.El Camino is embarking on an ambitious effort to...
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Adapting traditional rubrics for EssayTagger: Nevada Opinion Writing Rubric...
EssayTagger represents an evolution of the concept of a rubric. Here's a specific look at how I adapted an existing rubric to take advantage of the EssayTagger world.If you're new to the EssayTagger...
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Latest update: Summative Assessment mode - just in time for finals!
EssayTagger is all about helping teachers provide targeted feedback that will promote student growth. But as the school year winds down, summative assessments take center stage while the practical...
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How to configure an assignment for Summative Assessment mode
With today's release of Summative Assessment mode support, instructors can now evaluate end-of-unit and final essays without providing feedback comments. Here's how to get started.We're super-excited...
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Summer Project: DIY Gymnastics Mushroom
In addition to running EssayTagger I'm also a high school gymnastics coach. This is totally off-topic for EssayTagger, but I didn't have anywhere else to post it!My flares aren't perfect but they are...
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K-5 Common Core standards in-progress!
EssayTagger's free Common Core Rubric Creation Tool has been very well received by teachers. But I initially only adapted the 6-12 standards. I'm finally gearing up for K-5!Our free Common Core Rubric...
View ArticleDiscussing: "The Death of Math" by Gary Rubenstein
Rubenstein bemoans testing culture's effect on Math education and suggests a better way forward. I feel his pain but think he's only half-right.Gary Rubenstein in his "The Death of math" blog post is...
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