How can we leverage technology to address the increasing prevalence and importance of digital assessments?
Upon reading the article I felt somewhat reassured in my career and teaching, and thankful for the strives my district is taking to promote higher level thinking. I have been involved in two districts that value a Robert Marzano philosophy alongside my current district that is an IB (International Baccalaureate) world school. The best way to describe IB is as a framework that encourages higher level (inquiry based) thinking from students, which provides social and problem solving skills to contribute to a global society (implemented across all subject areas).
But...here's where my district lacks in the ability to completely be global...no technology. What global society are we preparing students for when we are not weaving in the proper technology? We are in for a rude awakening come 2015 with SBAC. Our district has not attained wifi in the district, we have it in certain areas (library, cafeteria for cashiers, and some special education classrooms). The password can only be entered by our one person technology director on a school owned device, so even as an educator and bringing in my own items I am not allowed to tap into our wifi. They will take a top-down approach for introducing entire school wifi from the high school down, with an elementary expectancy in two years time.
I guess this is going back to my earlier posts in that us as teachers are going to have to be the classroom innovators, because unfortunately the funding isn't there, and who's to say it ever will be. It's going to take a lot of basic computing and maneuvering skills from teacher to student to learn and guide themselves on today's technology (somewhat if they do not have exposure). The problem with today's technology is that not everyone 1. has it 2. or knows how to use it.
As a kindergarten teacher, I feel that early exposure to technology in my classroom is key in preparing them for future work in upper grades, especially with SBAC approaching. I already implement some form of exit ticket (non-technological) and next year teaching second grade I will have more opportunities to include higher level thinking in my exits. At the elementary level I have experience with reading A-Z, AR, and other forms of assessment tracking per student like IXL math. We utilize AIMSWeb and Datawise programs K-5 where we can even create our very own assessments and have the exposure early on to technological test taking (one thing I am very thankful for is teaching bubbling! Teaching a student how to bubble opposed to just a click is life-changing!).
I was introduced to Socrative and Exit Ticket at this year's MACUL Conference and loved it! Although, I haven't been able to successfully implement it without the proper (necessary) technology. The ease and ability at which they function and the automatic emails you receive, takes time away from grading and is a great way for data collection. It is also a great tool to show the teacher where their students are at in that moment in time AS WELL AS provide your students with immediate feedback! Infuselearning seemed to be very similar to the two. Do you utilize these with your chromebooks in your room? Do you have a preference over one or the other?
The googledocs with flubaroo reminded me of your survey you had asked us to take, I have the option to "flubaroo" with Datawise in my classroom, which I can create tests and have them electronically graded. However, flubaroo was really simple and less time consuming (as well as easily navigated). Thank you for this introduction!
In the article;
"Currently, a typical language arts assessment requires students to read a passage, then respond to five or six multiple-choice questions based on the passage. The newer tests may require students to go back into the passage and highlight evidence for their answers--" (Fink, 2013)
This quote was really assuring to me in that I am doing okay with my teaching. We always strive to do better and it reminds me of my former educators who inspired me to teach, good teachers have been doing this all along, it just now requires the introduction of technology.
I am hopeful, optimistic, and determined to hit the ground running with technology in terms of assessment and this course has really opened my eyes to better implementation and view points. I would love to do more but with the resources I have and have attained but currently I don't have that opportunity (or funds).
