Technology is used in most classrooms now and there are all different ways to use technology. Teachers can use different software and web-based programs in the classroom to facilitate learning and student assessments. There are two different types of assessments: formative assessments and summative assessments. Formative assessments evaluate “student learning based on specific timespans at multiple points gathering activities and assignments to make sure the learner is developing knowledge, skills, and ability to master the content” (Gunter & Gunter, 2015). “Formative assessment also allows students to fail an assignment (e.g., 1 of 5 quiz scores), learn from mistakes, and subsequently not suffer penalty in the form of a poor final grade…., however, does require students to continuously demonstrate learning and engagement with the ongoing process of evaluation” (Perera-Diltz & Moe, 2014). These types of assessments can be quizzes taken by the students through a lesson or semester but they can also be simple assignments to allow the teacher to see how students are doing and if any changes need to be made. Summative assessments, on the other hand, evaluate students at the end of something like the semester or year. “If a student is unable to perform at his or her peak on the chosen summative assessment format (e.g., final projector test), then student learning is not accurately assessed and students’ feelings of engagement and empowerment with the learning process may be diminished” (Perera-Diltz & Moe, 2014). Any type of work that students do online, like discussion boards, interactive activities, or electronic feedback systems, can be counted as a formative or summative assessment.
There are always advantages and disadvantages to using technology to assess student learning, just as there are advantages and disadvantages to using technology for anything in the classroom. Using technology during assessments can help teacher with time management and allow them more time to work hands on with students instead of standing in front of the class and lecturing. Technology allows students to work at their own pace and gives teachers the opportunity to focus more on teaching and the learning process. Some other advantages are: “Taking test become flexible in terms of place and time, feedback provided with expectations, it reduces costs of printing and copying, students can assess their knowledge as frequently as they need” (Rastgoo & Namvar, 2010). However there are also multiple disadvantages to using technology for assessments. While doing online assessments, especially if they are available outside of school, students have more of an ability to cheat or plagiarize their work. “An instructor does not have control of testing environment where students are allowed to take a test anytime and anywhere. Disconnecting is a big problem while taking a test” (Rastgoo & Namvar, 2010). If technology is used in compliance with the International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) standards students will have the most benefit. The ISTE standards “describe the skills and knowledge they [students] need to learn effectively and live productively in an increasingly global and digital society”. These standards include creativity, communication, problem solving and critical thinking skills, and digital citizenship. ISTE created these standards so that all teachers have a basis of what to create their assessments off of, meaning all assessments should include these few standards. According to a survey done by the Tukey Post Hoc, after the internet, grades kindergarten through 5th use technology mainly for games, grades 6th through 12th use technology mainly for word processing and research (Smarkola, 2008). As long as teachers are making sure that students are abiding by ISTE Standards for Students the use of technology will help students in multiple different ways.
In my opinion technology is very beneficial when used in the classroom including for the use of assessing student learning. I believe that formative assessments should be done with both electronic tools as well as in print or speech. I think using technology for all small assessments would be difficult for the students and they would not be as interested after some time. On the other hand I think summative assessments can benefit greatly from technology. Summative assessments are usually longer and used for multiple classes, or even grade levels, therefore with technology all assessments can be identical and teachers do not have to take as much time grading each students work. I believe there are certain assignments and assessments that can and should use technology to complete but there are others that should be done by hand.
References
Gunter G., & Gunter R. (2015). Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology in a Changing World. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
ISTE Standards for Students. (n.d) Retrieved April 11, 2015, from the International Society for Technology in Education: http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards /standards-for-students.
Perera-Diltz, D. M., & Moe, J. L. (2014). Formative and Summative Assessment in Online Education. Journal Of Research In Innovative Teaching, 7(1), 130-142.
Rastgoo, A., & Namvar, Y. (2010). ASSESSMENT APPROACHES IN VIRTUAL LEARNING. Turkish Online Journal Of Distance Education (TOJDE), 11(1), 42-48.
Smarkola, C. (2008). Developmentally Responsive Technology-Literacy Use in Education: Are Teachers Helping Students Meet Grade-Level National Technology Standards?. Journal Of Educational Computing Research, 38(4), 387-409. doi:10.2190/EC.38.4.b
There are always advantages and disadvantages to using technology to assess student learning, just as there are advantages and disadvantages to using technology for anything in the classroom. Using technology during assessments can help teacher with time management and allow them more time to work hands on with students instead of standing in front of the class and lecturing. Technology allows students to work at their own pace and gives teachers the opportunity to focus more on teaching and the learning process. Some other advantages are: “Taking test become flexible in terms of place and time, feedback provided with expectations, it reduces costs of printing and copying, students can assess their knowledge as frequently as they need” (Rastgoo & Namvar, 2010). However there are also multiple disadvantages to using technology for assessments. While doing online assessments, especially if they are available outside of school, students have more of an ability to cheat or plagiarize their work. “An instructor does not have control of testing environment where students are allowed to take a test anytime and anywhere. Disconnecting is a big problem while taking a test” (Rastgoo & Namvar, 2010). If technology is used in compliance with the International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) standards students will have the most benefit. The ISTE standards “describe the skills and knowledge they [students] need to learn effectively and live productively in an increasingly global and digital society”. These standards include creativity, communication, problem solving and critical thinking skills, and digital citizenship. ISTE created these standards so that all teachers have a basis of what to create their assessments off of, meaning all assessments should include these few standards. According to a survey done by the Tukey Post Hoc, after the internet, grades kindergarten through 5th use technology mainly for games, grades 6th through 12th use technology mainly for word processing and research (Smarkola, 2008). As long as teachers are making sure that students are abiding by ISTE Standards for Students the use of technology will help students in multiple different ways.
In my opinion technology is very beneficial when used in the classroom including for the use of assessing student learning. I believe that formative assessments should be done with both electronic tools as well as in print or speech. I think using technology for all small assessments would be difficult for the students and they would not be as interested after some time. On the other hand I think summative assessments can benefit greatly from technology. Summative assessments are usually longer and used for multiple classes, or even grade levels, therefore with technology all assessments can be identical and teachers do not have to take as much time grading each students work. I believe there are certain assignments and assessments that can and should use technology to complete but there are others that should be done by hand.
References
Gunter G., & Gunter R. (2015). Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology in a Changing World. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
ISTE Standards for Students. (n.d) Retrieved April 11, 2015, from the International Society for Technology in Education: http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards /standards-for-students.
Perera-Diltz, D. M., & Moe, J. L. (2014). Formative and Summative Assessment in Online Education. Journal Of Research In Innovative Teaching, 7(1), 130-142.
Rastgoo, A., & Namvar, Y. (2010). ASSESSMENT APPROACHES IN VIRTUAL LEARNING. Turkish Online Journal Of Distance Education (TOJDE), 11(1), 42-48.
Smarkola, C. (2008). Developmentally Responsive Technology-Literacy Use in Education: Are Teachers Helping Students Meet Grade-Level National Technology Standards?. Journal Of Educational Computing Research, 38(4), 387-409. doi:10.2190/EC.38.4.b