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https://anchor.fm/hitechpod/embed/episodes/24--How-to-Foster-an-Inclusive-Classroom--Equity-Maps-e171io3
Equity MapsEquity Maps is an app for the Apple iPad that helps you measure the interactions between participants in a conversation. Available for a one-time purchase, this app lets you create maps based on your students so that you can evaluate who is talking and at what lengths
The graphs will show you how much talking took place, who talked to who, and therefore who did not speak to others. With different modes for groups, pairs, and what they title "Chaos" groups (sounds more like a good conversation to me), you can apply this tool to many different types of discussions.
Discourse, of course! Equity Maps help you measure what might otherwise go unnoticed. Do some of your students stay quiet the entire time? Are there any students who do not talk to one another?
Equity Maps help you measure what might otherwise go unnoticed.
Are you talking too much? These questions are not the only ones to address, but they are a great starting point to determining if all of your students have equitable access to the conversations that take place in your classroom. It is generally aimed towards spoken discussion, but you could certainly use this tool to evaluate a written discussion.
Check out this demo video to see exactly how you could utilize Equity Maps...
While we prefer things to be free at HiTech, we're all the more excited when something is both good and cheap. Equity Maps has a basic app available for $1.99 in the US Apple app store, and a premium version for $9.99. This one-time purchase will get you going and show you the ropes. You can also check out Equity maps set up tutorials to learn more.
Once you've got the app setup and the functions figured out, the next step is to plan your discussions themselves. Maybe start small - plan some think-pair-share activities or try it during an ice-breaker activity. Getting familiar with the practice of mapping the conversation will take some practice as you will need to manually track the participants. As you learn how your students interact with you and one another, start tracking some hypotheses that you would like to address.