Saved by the Bell-Grockit.com
RSSChristopher Bell
Standardized tests got you down? Worried about that upcoming assessment? Not sure your teens are going to get the scores they need on the SAT or ACT? Then Grockit.com is the answer! Grockit was founded in 2007 by Farb Nivi, formerly The Princeton Review's teacher of the year and Kaplan Test Prep's academic director, so you know you can trust the research behind this collaborative-learning site. Plus, teens will enjoy taking advantage of its many social networking opportunities. Grockit is the ultimate study buddy. Teens can stay connected via Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Plus, there are featured instructors, achievement badges, and a running list of linked users. Kids can also join study groups to prepare for their upcoming tests. Across the top of the page, users will find links to a personal study plan, practice sections, tutoring help, skill data, and study history. Best of all, students can customize their plans to reflect their individual needs. For example, select "Targeted Practice" and questions will immediately appear that are similar to the ones on standardized tests. Answer an item, and Grockit quickly indicates whether the choice is right or wrong-plus offers advice on how to solve the problem. For every correct answer, kids earn points toward achievement awards and badges that they can share with their online study network and friends. The coolest thing is that the site also links to YouTube.com, so students can find video tutorials to help them with the problems! There's even a timer available to replicate test conditions. In the practice section, students can play learning games on their own or with others online. They can even set up a study group that corresponds to their grade levels and areas of need. In the skill data section, teens can see what they've mastered and what they still need to learn. Plus, a personal history option is available to track their progress. For kids in grades 7 to 12, there's an area for academy learning, which focuses on skills necessary to graduate from high school. And, of course, there's practice sections for the SAT and ACT. Older students will also find helpful materials on the LSAT, GRE, IIM-CAT, and GMAT. And Grockit is still expanding its services. In October, it added the latest addition to its social learning platform, Grockit Answers, a tool for hosting timely Q&A discussions around web videos. Though I prefer to highlight free apps, Grockit is so worthwhile, I'm making an exception. Prices begin at $9.99 a month for each testing module and subscriptions may be paid in monthly installments. Grockit offers a free, three-day trial, so if your students have a big test coming up soon, try out this site now. This article originally appeared in School Library Journal's enewsletter SLJTeen. Subscribe here.
