Ed Tech's Role in Assessment

When it comes to assessments, technology can be a huge difference maker for both teachers and students. There are multiple assessments used throughout the school year. Summative assessments measure knowledge at a specific point in time. They are usually given at the end of a unit to determine whether students are meeting standards. The second kind of assessment is a formal summative test. These are given at the end of the year to measure student progress and include statewide tests. The third form of assessment is a formative assessment. These are frequent, instructionally embedded checks for understanding that provide quick feedback. A combination of the three is necessary to ensure students are receiving the support and are being challenged. 

https://tech.ed.gov/netp/assessment/

There are many positive aspects to delivering assessments through technology. Using technology will provide real time feedback that can be accessible to not only students, but parents as well. Assessments can also be embedded in student learning. According to the Office of Education Technology "embedded assessments have the potential to be useful for diagnostic and support purposes in that they provide insights into why students are having difficulties in mastering concepts and provide insights into how to personalize feedback to address these challenges." I believe the biggest positive aspect of delivering assessments through technology is it enables enhanced question types. Instead of the standard true-or-false, or fill-in-the-blank questions students can be asked to draw, arrange sentences or phrases within a passage or enter in an equation. These types of questions cause students to think critically and analyze information. 

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Based on what I have learned so far in my IT 442 course I want to embed assessments into my students learning. I think this will be the most practical way to deliver assessments through technology. I believe this because the chances of having a computer available to every student at the same time is very slim. Instead by embedding the assessments in different types of games and programs students can play at different times and I will still be provided with that important information. In terms of providing feedback to my students, I will post personalized feedback to every student on their page in our classroom shared folder. I will provide students with strengths as well as areas they can improve upon and different resources to use to help improve on those areas.

To read more from The Office of Educational Technology about Assessments click here.