Assessment and Evaluation Practices

Computer technology and it's integration in schools have provided a lot of opportunities to increase student engagement, meet learning needs by providing differentiated instruction and assessment opportunities. In regards to assessment practices, it can be useful in cultivating a culture of more fair and equitable practices. How you might ask? Well, as the effective assessment and design article so eloquently put it,  "technology extends the options available to designers of assessment and feedback, making it possible to vary the approach taken within a module or programme of learning. The use of different formats and media, combined with elements of peer and self-assessment, can both encourage learners to spend time on tasks and prompt original thought" below is a recap of the points the article mentions- what we should be doing to support our learners!

There are many tools we can use to utilize and increase formative assessment opportunities. If teachers use tools like EdPuzzle, not only is their marking done for them, they can see results of individuals in real time. It gives teachers the opportunity assign a video to their classes, ask them questions and see the computer generated results. Teachers can use this information to gain a formative assessment of what students have learned. From this information they can know if they can move on from a topic or if they need to spend more time focusing on it. Additionally, teachers are able to see how many times students needed to watch the video ant it also prevents students from opening other tabs while the video is playing - the video simply pauses when this happens. 

Learning skills- those essential skills that we need to assess throughout our semesters and then give students a grade. Sometimes, we might just look at those skills at the end of the semester and make professional judgments about what grade to give a student, but is this the most fair way to mark them? What anecdotal evidence do we have to back up our assessments? Technology provides opportunities for teachers to "mark" students and keep an anecdotal record. In our board, currently. we use a program called Teach Assist. Throughout the semester teachers can use this program and it'll record the results, ideally, we'd try to mark a learning skill times a week this would allow for more observations to be conducted. I use it when I do homework checks, assignments are due, kids are working independently or in groups and any time a student seeks me out for extra help (E for initiative!) At the end of the year, when report cards are due, Teach Assist takes all my data and compiles a grade for me. It seems like the evaluation is more fair and their is evidence to back it up. See photos below for how it looks/works


          Record skills and keep notes indicating why
          Summary when you click on each student 
                
 Pre-populated results based on recorded assessments

Using Google Classroom has been extremely beneficial to all types of learning. It's helpful with equity as students have a place to submit assignments and review materials. It eliminates the need for printers at home and students can access it from anywhere with internet using any  device as it is synced up with a gmail account. Additionally. teachers can monitor student work during class and give feedback. In English, I don't always get the chance to meet with each student during class.  Using Google Classroom I can comment and make suggestions on the work from students who I didn't get to meet in class and they still get the opportunity to receive my feedback. Teachers can  post questions or forums and get student results. It's a good place to have assessment as learning, I use a Google Forum and get students to reflect on  their learning skills and habits. Obviously, these are just a few helpful tech tools that help with assessment and evaluation. But it's clear to see the possibilities!