Michael C. Warren

Technology facilitator standard IV covers assessment and evaluation. For me this is both beneficial and hinderance to technology. Its benefit is that we can use technology to gain faster reporting results, provide analytics on students and break down groups having problems meeting standards. On the other hand it also becomes the goal to implement technology in order to improve scores, that it often does not achieve the desired result. As technologists we have to make sure we are using the technology, or planning on using the technology as the main solution to a problem. One of these tools is the use of online testing or computerized testing environments. Students can take a test over a subject with questions marked for specific categories that need to be covered, once the test is completed the students receive an instant grade and in some cases a small report of how they did in each category. For both standardized tests and local testing this is very useful. First it allows for teachers to see what areas need to be refocused or strengthened based on testing categories. It also allows teachers to see what students may have problems with over the course of time as information can be compared to past data.

There are other tools that are in use in classrooms that allow teachers and students to gain instant access to how they are both doing. One such item is the handheld student response system. We use these in a few our classes at school and find that it is very affective. “Teachers can use student response data to assess student mastery of content, stimulate class discussion, and identify common misconceptions” (Redish and Williamson, 2009). This is one tool I would like to use in my classroom, however it gets priority to classrooms with limited technology and students with special assistance in learning. I have looked into computer based tools but have only found limited options.

Since I am covering the idea of portability of education using Internet and mobile Standards IV focus on assessment and evaluation can be both easy to achieve, but also tricky, depending on if you are talking about local, state, or federal levels.  “Have Your Student Learnt It? Web-based courses are being used either as credit or non-credit, While the use of these means of knowledge delivery may offer many advantages developing more independant learners, there are also information handling skills which students must acquire” (Arsham, 2002). From a local school standpoint, test can be taken, assignments turned in all online and you trust that the student is learning and they are the ones learning.  But when it comes to federal and state testing, you have to offer a facility to give testing. Connections Academy which is an online public school, answers this question by saying “Your Connections Academy school will arrange testing locations throughout the state and will inform you in advance of where and when your child is scheduled to attend” (Frequently Asked Questions About Connections Academy, 2010).  Students are still required to take the standardized tests, but arrangements are made so they are properly proctored.

Reference

Redish, T., & Williamson, J. (2009). ISTE’s Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards: What Every K-12 Leader Should Know and Be Able to Do. Eugene,OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Arsham, H. (2002). Impact of the Internet on Learning and Teaching. USDLA Journal, 16(3). Retreived from http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/MAR02_Issue/article01.html

Frequently Asked Questions About Connections Academy: FAQs. (n.d.). Free Online School from Home: Connections Academy. Retrieved from http://www.connectionsacademy.com/faqs.aspx#tests