58
B
y now, quite a few of you, as well as over 30,000 users across the globe, have heard of the app Equity Maps® that promotes student interaction and reflection. But did you know that it was created by David Nelson, the ACS Athens Academy Principal? The basic idea of the app is simple, and it’s based on the classic concept of passing a ball of yarn from speaker to speaker in a group discussion to track how the conversation is flowing. By the end of the discussion, everyone has a visual of how the interaction was taking place. The discussion can then be played back to allow for reflection and further feedback from the group
Technology Is Navigating The Future Of Education How educators utilize technology will be a game-changer for students and society. And this is a game ACS Athens is clearly winning. Introducing Equity Maps® – An Online Tool That Provides A Virtual “Road-Map” Of Group Interaction by Annie Angelides, Assistant to the Dean of Academics
Annie Angelides interviewed David Nelson to find out more about this unique tool. AA: So, what exactly is Equity Maps, and how does it work? DN: “Equity Maps is a tool to help students or adults delve deeper into their dialogue and analyze how they communicate together. It was designed for facilitators, teachers, and instructional coaches. Each student in the app is displayed as an icon. During a group discussion, teachers tap the icon of each new speaker, and a line appears to create a visual representation of the conversation. Teachers can then play back the data to show how the conversation flowed. “When students can see the data and see the lines of communication that happen in a classroom, they can come to their own conclusion about how to improve their discussions.” Mr. Nelson says. Dialogue and collaboration is a skill. It’s not automatic. AA: How did you come up with this idea? DN: “I’ve been teaching for thirty years, but when I first started out, I was Activities Director, and we did a lot with student leadership retreats. Bonding activities were very popular at these retreats, and I remember, in some, we would sit in a large circle and do various communication exercises. One of the most popular activities was to pass around a ball of yarn every time someone had something to say, and then pass it on to the next person in the group who had something to share.
