How I FIP My Classroom: Schoology

I got a message shortly after receiving my license to FIP my classroom. A new module series from Battelle for Kids – Ohio. As more and more of the buzz words/phrases centered on FIP I decided to take a look at my own practice and determine how I incorporate these techniques. I watch a very good module on FIP at http://portal.battelleforkids.org/FIPOhio/. You can create a login and complete professional development courses online.

So…to the point. FIP (Formative instructional practices)is something good teachers are already doing. FIP is part of OTES. i.e. The teacher uses assessment data to identify students’ strengths and needs and modifies and differentiates instruction accordingly, as well as examines classroom assessment results to reveal trends and patterns in individual and group progress and to anticipate learning obstacles.

Two huge things I do to inform my instruction are journal entries and fill-in-the-blank questions. Quick questions that can be delivered via a quiz or discussion post.

FIP Schoology
You may also choose to collect formative responses in Schoology. My favorite ways are journal responses with a rubric and fill-in-the-blank test questions.
From the materials section of the course select discussions. Then on the discussion page select Add Discussion.

Title your discussion, post the discussion question, assign a due date and point value. I check enable grading. This doesn’t mean you have to put the grade in your Progress Book Gradebook but does allow you to give feedback to the student about their response. I set expectations for the response by using a rubric.


You can create a new rubric or use one already created. The rubric can be specifically tied to standards.

I don’t count the answer to the question right or wrong but do gain information from the response. Then I grade the response on completeness. You can choose alignment rubric with standards OR create custom criteria. i.e. Completeness – The journal response will have at least 4 sentences including a topic sentence and details. The journal response will use proper punctuation with no text talk or slang. (see +Criteria)
Sample includes CCSS.ELA alignment

The rubric displays for the student before they post their response. There are no questions about expectations.

Watch video…grading a discussion post. (coming soon)

The other way to quickly assess student understanding is the Fill-in-the-blank question. Choose one question, add a few blanks with the answers, and even throw in some nonsense words…allow students to type in or select the correct answers for a quick understanding check. Schoology grades it for you!!!
Go to tests/quizzes -> Add Test/Quiz -> fill out the dialog box (name the quiz, assign a point value (or don’t).

Press create.

Then + Add Question. -> choose fill-in-the-blank
Type your statement with ONE underscore line for each blank. Each time you select an underscore the system creates a blank. Type the answer…if you will accept more than one response as the answer then add an answer and the system will accept any answer as correct.

Finally, determine if you will provide a word bank, allow partial credit, add save question. One question is all you need to do a quick check of understanding but the question can have as many blanks as you choose. Schoology will allow you to run a report on the test stats so you can see what was frequently missed.

Watch the video of creating a Fill-In-The-Blank Quiz Question. (coming soon)

What the student sees.

Watch a video -- Answering Fill-In-The-Blank Quiz.(coming soon)