Tuesday, April 12
12:10-12:30 PM
PDT
Tidepool 5

The Keep in School Shape (KiSS) Program: Features of An Interactive Mobile Program to Engage Students in Reviewing Material Over School Breaks

Best Practices (Live Virtual) ID: 61107
  1. aaa
    Carla van de Sande
    Arizona State University
  2. Jana Vandenberg
    Arizona State University

Abstract: The Keep in School Shape (KiSS) program is an engaging, accessible, and cost-effective intervention that teachers can use to help students review material over school breaks. The KiSS program makes regular rehearsal of learned material easy for students by sending them a multiple-choice question daily via text messaging or email. This daily problem effectively serves as a mini test for the student to measure their ability to retrieve previously mastered knowledge and perform a task that is foundational for future skills. The KiSS Program also aligns with a growth mindset theory of intelligence that metaphorically views the brain as a muscle that grows stronger with exercise. When students engage in the KiSS Program over breaks by testing themselves regularly to see if they can perform a previously learned skill or concept, they are essentially flexing and toning their “brain muscle” and keeping it from atrophying with disuse. In addition, the KiSS Program includes features that more directly promote and support a growth mindset. For instance, students can receive feedback messages that praise effort so that mistakes and difficult problems are depicted as profitable learning opportunities. We introduce the KiSS program, allow audience members to explore the program, and interactively construct activities with audience members so that they can see how to build a KiSS Program for their students.

Objectives

Through hands on experience, the audience will: 1. learn the history of the evolution of the Keep in School Shape (KiSS) Program, 2. become familiar with the design and features that are currently available, 3. explore the Keep in School Shape (KiSS) program from a student perspective, 2. discover how to structure a similar review program for their own students, and 3. discuss the impact of such programs for fostering regular review and a growth mindset.

Topical Outline

I. Introduction: The Keep in School Shape (KiSS) Program A. History of development B. Design and Features C. Student Experience and Simulations (Hands On) II. Research: What we’ve learned A. Aggregate i. Participation ii. Confidence iii. Accuracy iv. Use of Resources B. Case Studies i. Mindset and Engagement ii. Student Feedback III. How to Build It (Hands On) A. Introduction to use of online survey software tool to deliver the KiSS Program B. Guided sample activity construction i. Brainstorming desired features ii. Building a KiSS Program with these features C. Distribution i. Learn how to distribute the KiSS Program to students

Prerequisites

This session is focused on teachers (K-16) interested in getting their students to enjoy regularly reviewing material over breaks from school. Although the KiSS Program was originally developed to help university students review mathematical skills and concepts between sequential courses, it can be easily adapted for other subject areas and grade levels. To fully participate, audience members will need to bring their own laptops. It is beneficial for audience members to have some experience setting up online surveys.

Experience Level

Intermediate

Qualifications

Carla van de Sande is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at Arizona State University, and uses her expertise in cognitive studies to design resources that help students succeed. She is the founder and executive directive of the KiSS Program that helps students regularly rehearse critical skills over academic breaks. She began offering a version of the KiSS program to a single class of students in 2016 and has since developed it into a much more efficient and accessible program that is currently used by hundreds of students each academic break.

Presider: Norma Veguilla-martinez, UHCL

Topic

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