Rank+and+Discuss

=Rank and Discuss= Ranking and discussing is a powerful learning tool that fosters: It can be used as an informal project to assess understanding, but it can also be graded. Grades could be based on the number of key ideas that were ranked in the top five positions. You could also grade based on the precise order, but this is probably more easily done using traditional assessments.
 * compare & contrast
 * research
 * debate
 * collaboration
 * analysis

In this technology mini-lab, teachers used an online tool to rank the most important Middle school subjects. In a classroom, students would be broken up into small groups and one person has a computer (each group has their own login). The teachers were given five minutes. Students could get a short amount of time or a long amount of time if the items being ranked are complicated or open-ended. After each group is done, the results are compared across groups (see picture below). Students debate the validity of their answer. So, the best (or "right") answer is not necessarily the most popular.

This type of tool can be used many different ways. Some examples include:
 * comparing songs/art
 * comparing chemical elements
 * comparing inventions
 * comparing leaders/presidents
 * comparing meiosis steps
 * comparing factors of immigration
 * comparing causes of wars/laws/social change
 * comparing math rules
 * comparing story elements
 * comparing grammar rules

I used a tool from Intel --> http://educate.intel.com/workspace/auth/checkstatus.aspx?LID=en&tid=vr