“Assessment is the process of gathering and analyzing data to determine if intended learning outcomes have been achieved.” (Page 219, par. 3) We use assessment activities as a way to determine where students are struggling and where they are excelling. We use them as a way to adjust our teaching so that the students learn better. By using technology to assess our students, we can look at the outcomes in several different ways. Having multiple ways to assess students, we gain a more inclusive picture of how well the students are learning. Technology offers more ways to assess the students’ meaningful learning of the material. Perhaps the most important aspect of technology-based assessment is that it provides teachers with a way to know what the students know. When teachers know and understand that information, we can help them to know and learn more, and to learn on a higher level.
“E-portfolios are a collection of digitized artifacts that may include video clips, graphics, sound, writing samples, artwork, and multimedia presentations, to name a few. Taken together, they can represent the accomplishments of an individual or group of learners (Lorenzo & Ittelson, 2005)” (Page 220, par. 2) E-portfolios help the students organize and display their work in a way that makes it attractive and easy to view. They help teachers assess the students learning while also assessing their work. E-portfolios are extremely useful in assessing almost any learning outcome. Computer-based testing has traditionally been used to simplify the testing process for teachers and administrators. The student uses a computer to take a test versus the traditional paper version. “…students are passive recipients of what is being shown on the computer screen.” (Page 236, par. 3) Based on my personal experience, computer-based tests don’t serve any greater purpose than simplifying the grading process for teachers. It is not engaging. In fact, it is rather boring. In a way, computer-based testing does impact validity because there is always the possibility of errors in grading or reading the answer the student inputs. Reliability is also affected because there is the possibility of the computer crashing, or other unexpected incidents that could interrupt the testing process.
Personally, I believe assessment is a necessary component of education. It does and always will serve as a way for teachers to assess their teaching and to improve their students learning. Integrating technology into the assessment process can be a good thing, if the technology is implemented correctly. Computer-based testing does integrate technology, however, not in the best way. Simply using the computer to take the same test that would be printed on paper, is not a great way to use technology for assessment. While using the computer saves paper and grading time for the teachers, it does the students no good. I am a fan of e-portfolios because they allow the student to display their work in a way that is creative and fun while also making it easier for the teacher to assess their learning. Using technology-based assessment could help to allow teachers to improve upon their students learning.
Jonassen, DJ, Howland, JH, Marra, RM, & Crismond, DC (2008). Meaningful Learning with Technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.
Jonassen, DJ, Howland, JH, Marra, RM, & Crismond, DC (2008). Meaningful Learning with Technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.
Inline Citation: Lorenzo & Ittelson, 2005
I agree that computer based testing does integrate technology into the classroom, but not in the best way, in fact probably one of the worst ways. I am a strong believer of old school, pencil and paper. But certain technologies are great int he classroom.
ReplyDeleteI do like the old school pencil and paper. However, I think integrating technology is somewhat important. Students are getting bored with the same old lecture-type teaching. But I do agree that if technology is used correctly and not overused, it can be a great tool.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was the only one that would be thinking "old school" but I do agree with both of you that testing on the computer isn't always the best way to assess a student. Having a student write down their answers in a full complete sentence is a great way to assess not only their writing skills but their penmanship as well. Testing online is a fast, clean, eco-friendly, efficient way to test a student acedemically but not necessarily test their creativity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you I think that the students are not ready to be assessed with technolgy. They sould still be used with paper and pencil.
ReplyDeletePS- Great post :)
I think I'll take the middle road. Stdents should be assessed with BOTH technology and old school methods (pencil/paper). There are certain things that they (and we as well) need to be able to do without technology. Like I said in another response, math is not such a great subject to use technology. However, several other classes could use it. Concerning science, especially for schools with less funding, they could do experiments on the computer if they do not have the materials at hand. I remember there were some students who refused to dissect a fetal pig, so they did it online! I also think that technology specific classes need to bump up their game a bit. I know mine taught students the bare minimum.
ReplyDeleteI also dislike "scantrons." When teachers would post we need do many on our syllabus. I would groan because this would be no fun, they are so generalized. The only bonus for a student is it is easy, but this is also a bad thing because we are not learning anything. Computer-based testing does not show how smart a student is or can be.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of scantrons either. They are too easy to mess up on when bubbling in answers which can cause a student to fail easily. Even if they know the material.
ReplyDelete