Wizer

Wizer is a website where K-12 teachers can create augmented digital worksheets in any subject area. Once users sign up for an account, they can immediately start browsing or creating worksheets. Users choose a template and then add a title along with written and/or voice-recorded instructions and create their questions based on videos, images, charts, tables, and more. Once teachers save, preview, and assign the worksheet, students can access them on computers or mobile devices via LMS logins (Google, Edmodo, Microsoft), a class code, or a link to a URL. Teachers can opt to give students a choice of response format, such as verbal, written, or drawn. As students complete the assignment, they have to save it before handing it in, as Wizer doesn't save automatically, but Wizer will remind them to review answers before submitting them. Teachers can then score the open-ended questions and review the objective ones. They can also mark favorite answers, provide written or verbal feedback, and see how long the student took to submit the assignment. Once all assignments have been graded, students can review the feedback but cannot make changes.

The paid version of Wizer allows students to customize their profile by adding strengths, passions, preferences, and challenges, and teachers can use this information to form groups, personalize assignments, and create differentiation rules. This feature will take some work to learn, but it could be an excellent way to monitor student progress.

Worksheets often get a bad rap as a pedagogical tool, but with careful instructional design, teachers can create meaningful, engaging learning experiences for their students. Wizer allows teachers to create augmented worksheets with multiple activities in one place and give students options for visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning modalities. The ability to record voice directions along with written ones can be a huge benefit for English language learners or students with disabilities. Also, a teacher's ability to see how much time students spend on assignments can provide valuable insight into student effort and achievement.

It's true that there are limits to what worksheets can promote in terms of student creation; however, they can be a benefit for teachers who want to quickly assess understanding of specific concepts. This tool is limited in its capacity to promote formative assessment, and it would be great if students could create their own worksheets. Still, Wizer can be a great tool for edtech veterans who want to try something new; it can also be a starting place for newer adopters. Many teachers feel intimidated by the latest and greatest tools, but worksheets are familiar. This tool may encourage reluctant teachers to wade into edtech and improve instruction by creating digital assignments that promote engagement, creativity, and critical thinking.