Assessment Practices with Technology

Introduction

When we look at assessment in and outside the classroom, technology is playing a bigger role. Technology can benefit assessment practices because it gives us the ability to collect, store and communicate assessment information in many different ways. Teachers are required to coach, report, manage, and develop based on assessment information – and this can become fragmented. Sometimes it is easier to consider the role assessment plays in the learning process:

• Assessment of Learning – is the typical summative assessment of how the student did meeting a particular outcome or in a defined measure, such as a unit or test.

• Assessment for Learning – Is the more formative assessment that provides feedback and provides information to teachers to take students to the next stage of learning.

• Assessment as Learning – Is student-centered, they develop skills to promote learning independently.

As the teacher, technology can support our instructional practice by making use of its ability to share information in various mediums, connect individuals through various channels of communication, and to organize our data in digestible form. Here are a few areas where technology can support classroom assessment.

• Planning – plans and assessment goals clearly defined for yourself and the students

• Modeling Learning – provide samples and model expectations to set criteria

• Collecting Evidence – Conversations/Observations/Products

• Adjusting Instruction – make assessment part of instruction and be flexible

• Organizing and Presenting Evidence – students know more about what they learned than we do

• Communicating – should be a two-way process between teacher/parent/student/administrator/etc.

• Evaluating and Reporting – Look at the evidence and put a value to it.

The use of technology doesn't necessarily create better practice. However, when used correctly, the use of technology can make assessment more efficient, effective, and engaging. It's ability to be more fluid and immediate means that teachers can spend less time in their assessments, but get more meaningful results.

Some of the key benefits of technology-assessments include:

• Allows revision and collaboration so that teacher feedback is not just something we provide at the end of a project.

• Use standardized  assessment data and compare it with classroom-based assessment data with the use of databases and spreadsheets.

• Provides a central archive of assessment data that is accessible by all the participants, with the use of digital archives such as ePortfolios.

• Multiple representations for learning under ‘COP’ (conversations, observations, and products).

• Immediate feedback and communication with students and parents.

• Data tracking and reporting is more automated.

• Allows deeper reflection with social-media inspired Learning Management Systems.

Module Activity

Consider the progressive assessment practices of a classroom and how technology can support it. There have been a number of trends in educational technology and assessment. Consider ONE of the following trends and provide your feedback in a video rant (use any tool you want) as to how it measures up in terms of comprehensive assessment and overall student learning:

1. Badges: There are a number of sites that use custom badges to set and track academic goals for students. 

2. Gamification of Quizzes: The popularity of online quizzes is growing, especially with one that emphasize competition and fun. 

3. Clickers: With the use of portable devices in the classroom, the use of online quizzes and surveys has opened even further. 

4. ePortfolios: In an information era, a tool to collect and capture assessment data with easy navigation has been a driving force with ePortfolios. 

5. Real-time Shared Space (mostly for 1;1 classrooms): Think of the digital version of looking over the student's shoulder and offering advice in real-time. Part classroom management and part assessment. 

This list of online tools should help find examples of all the above categories.

... or Project Extension

Consider your assessment plan for your project, choose a platform that can centralize your assessment practices and make your practice more effective and efficient. The objective is to save time in your instructional day, but provide yourself and students with more meaningful information. This is an open-ended goal, but important when considering a comprehensive plan for assessment.