a conversation about World Language teaching in the Wissahickon School District
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Assessment
How can technology enhance our assessment practices so that educators can easily collect and analyze student performance data?
5 comments:
Anonymous
said...
For me this is the most difficult area in which to see improvement with the use of technology. The websites that come with some of our textbook series’ come with web-based quizzes and reviews. I have often thought of using the quizzes as a real source of assessment with my students, but I never have for fear of cheating and other logistical issues. In addition, the quizzes are mostly multiple choice, and that is not an ideal form of assessment for languages anyways. However, thinking outside the box a bit, I have used online bulletin boards and epal letters this year as 2 technologically-rich ways to assess students’ writing. I have also used video projects as ways to assess student’s speaking and presentation skills. In these examples, technology has been a tool that the students used for their product, but those products (writing samples, dialogs) could have been achieved without the use of technology. However, the use of technology is a good motivator for some students and the continued use of the online bulletin board this year has shown improvement in my students’ writing.
I would love to get to the point where kids could submit work electronically. With different programs at home, in the library, and in my classroom, it is hard for the kids to work within the confines of our current (lack of) technology. This would help, and save some trees, too! The only problem I see is, the kids know the programs very well, but teachers need a better base so that they are not reacting out of a "fear of the unknown".
BTW, I am writing as anonymous because I can't remember my password!
I have had the students use the quizzes on Quia.com for self assessment. I agree I worry about cheating when using them for grades given by the teacher.
In college, I took online quizzes each week. I also had to complete online homework assignments. This cut down on paper work for me and the teacher. I do forsee a cheating issue. I think sticking to homework assignments and projects; tasks where collaberation would be encouraged, could be a start.
5 comments:
For me this is the most difficult area in which to see improvement with the use of technology. The websites that come with some of our textbook series’ come with web-based quizzes and reviews. I have often thought of using the quizzes as a real source of assessment with my students, but I never have for fear of cheating and other logistical issues. In addition, the quizzes are mostly multiple choice, and that is not an ideal form of assessment for languages anyways. However, thinking outside the box a bit, I have used online bulletin boards and epal letters this year as 2 technologically-rich ways to assess students’ writing. I have also used video projects as ways to assess student’s speaking and presentation skills. In these examples, technology has been a tool that the students used for their product, but those products (writing samples, dialogs) could have been achieved without the use of technology. However, the use of technology is a good motivator for some students and the continued use of the online bulletin board this year has shown improvement in my students’ writing.
I would love to get to the point where kids could submit work electronically. With different programs at home, in the library, and in my classroom, it is hard for the kids to work within the confines of our current (lack of) technology. This would help, and save some trees, too! The only problem I see is, the kids know the programs very well, but teachers need a better base so that they are not reacting out of a "fear of the unknown".
BTW, I am writing as anonymous because I can't remember my password!
-Nicole
I have had the students use the quizzes on Quia.com for self assessment. I agree I worry about cheating when using them for grades given by the teacher.
In college, I took online quizzes each week. I also had to complete online homework assignments. This cut down on paper work for me and the teacher. I do forsee a cheating issue. I think sticking to homework assignments and projects; tasks where collaberation would be encouraged, could be a start.
It's another form of assessment that appeals to students. I have used it for a quick way for students to self-assess.
MJ
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