I found this week's focus very helpful in regards to my future of teaching. I gained knowledge of tools that will assist me in assessing students and focusing my instruction while using technology. The Digital Technology Tools for Implementing Formative Assessment article by Kathy Dyer was useful. It's already saved in my "Favorites"!
From her list of tools I decided to investigate Google Forms as assessment. I enjoy anticipation guides as they are a precursor to the issues involved in the novel. However, it seems much easier, quicker, and environmentally-friendly to use the GF! In my Google presentation, I gave some tips on its effectiveness. I found that a google form is simple to create and can be manipulated to fit your needs. For example, if you wanted to have a short answer response or elaboration for one of the anticipation guide questions, that is possible. It would be even more useful in my classroom as I can show the results of the questions. This is much more effective than me hang kids raise their hand for every statement and asking, "Who said 'true' for number one?" Students would be able to discuss the ones where there was the most debate!
The idea of using Padlet and iBrainstorm were also discussed in Dyer's second article on The Digital Technology Tools for Implementing Formative Assessment. I found the activating Self and Peers section interesting and want to try Padlet! It reminded me that I had used and discussed Bubble US earlier this year and thought that Bubble US would be perfect for generating ideas. This is also very effective in helping students organize thoughts. I am always intrigued by how kids think because it is so different than adults! When it comes to organizing thoughts for an essay, many struggle with main ideas and which information supports what topic. If kids could utilize this tech tool, I could help them organize their thoughts, in real time, and save so much class and instructional time. This allows for less frustration and more productivity!
Over the years, one for the most consistent forms of comprehension, easily modified, useful tool I have ever used in a graphic organizer. In this ever-growing technological world, there is no need to desert this tool! I am sure you all know by now that I love Google! I thought I could make an interactive graphic organizer. If kids could all edit the same one, it could be very useful in checking for understanding, while also combining efforts of the entire class. Great modification tool as well!
I found I had similar thoughts as Paula Dillon on collecting and sorting data based on formative assessment. He stressed it was hard to organize it to impact instruction. until he began "experimenting with digital formative assessment." I am glad the year is ending but a little upset I don't have time to implement many of the tools I found this week. I feel as if this week's material will benefit not only my students next year, but also me as I found digital FA is just as effective and more engaging than what I have been doing!
Sources:
Dillon, Paula. (2013, January, 1). Reflections on the Digital Formative Assessment Options. Retrieved May 29, 2015, from http://www.sophia.org/tutorials/digital-formative-assessment
Dyer, K. (2013, July 15). Digital Technology Tools for Implementing Formative Assessment – Post One. Retrieved May 29, 2015, from https://www.nwea.org/blog/2013/digital-technology-tools-for-implementing-formative-assessment-post-one/
Dyer, K. (2013, July 22). Digital Technology Tools for Implementing Formative Assessment – Post Two. Retrieved May 29, 2015, from https://www.nwea.org/blog/2013/digital-technology-tools-for-implementing-formative-assessment-post-one/
Friday, May 29, 2015
Friday, May 22, 2015
EDUC 7726 Blog Response in Regards to Digital Assessment
I think teachers need to be aware of using technology as an assessment tool to enhance skills and using technology to prepare for the workforce. It was very clear while reading the comprehensive entries of others that this is a focus of assessing using digital tools.
Cari McKee read Sarah Davis's "Effective Assessment in the Digital Age," and found that feedback was a major component of effect assessment. I think this sounds very familiar to assessing without technology! I feel as if the reason why we are stressing using technology in assessment is because it is the major change in this century. Without using technology in the classroom, we are not giving out students the best education. Using feedback is important to a child's education, using it specifically in regards to technology would help focus the students on the proper use of the tech, not just feedback on the content.
Christel Russman commented on the TRAILS technology assessments. I think this is a good tool for pre and post learning of technology tools. There is much concentration in the common core on research and source citation, etc. This is mostly because with the increase of technology, there has to be more focus on citing sources, so as not to plagiarize. The trails assessment is effective because it strictly focuses on the skills needed to achieve proper research and citation. However, the text can be quite comprehensive and overwhelming to students. I would suggest using it as a pre and post test to focus instruction for the following school year. This may help develop those essential skills.
Carl Pastor read Robin Flanigan's, "Movement Grows to Assess Students' Digital Literacy." This also supports my idea that assessing using technology should enhance skills and prepare for workforce. The article supports digital citizenship which is an issue with today's learners and is assessed in the common core. I enjoyed the comment about students becoming technology "producers" as opposed to simply "consumers"!
I believe with the growing focus of using technology to assess within the classroom, more and more students are realizing that technology is a useful tool for success and not just something to pass time!
Cari McKee read Sarah Davis's "Effective Assessment in the Digital Age," and found that feedback was a major component of effect assessment. I think this sounds very familiar to assessing without technology! I feel as if the reason why we are stressing using technology in assessment is because it is the major change in this century. Without using technology in the classroom, we are not giving out students the best education. Using feedback is important to a child's education, using it specifically in regards to technology would help focus the students on the proper use of the tech, not just feedback on the content.
Christel Russman commented on the TRAILS technology assessments. I think this is a good tool for pre and post learning of technology tools. There is much concentration in the common core on research and source citation, etc. This is mostly because with the increase of technology, there has to be more focus on citing sources, so as not to plagiarize. The trails assessment is effective because it strictly focuses on the skills needed to achieve proper research and citation. However, the text can be quite comprehensive and overwhelming to students. I would suggest using it as a pre and post test to focus instruction for the following school year. This may help develop those essential skills.
Carl Pastor read Robin Flanigan's, "Movement Grows to Assess Students' Digital Literacy." This also supports my idea that assessing using technology should enhance skills and prepare for workforce. The article supports digital citizenship which is an issue with today's learners and is assessed in the common core. I enjoyed the comment about students becoming technology "producers" as opposed to simply "consumers"!
I believe with the growing focus of using technology to assess within the classroom, more and more students are realizing that technology is a useful tool for success and not just something to pass time!
Friday, May 8, 2015
Infographic Reflection
Infographic Reflection
Process:
The infographic process was challenging, yet rewarding. I found it helpful that I had two weeks to complete and plan it out. Getting feedback also advanced my ideas and thought process. I found the piktochart site easy to manipulate material and it was user-friendly. This is something I could certainly have some students use for projects in my English class. Student choice is very popular these days and many students can apply their knowledge using this type of project.
I found the sources challenging as I used an APA format. It took my almost the same amount of time to generate the sources as it did to complete the infographic which cause some frustration.
Product:
Using the material I found in my research, I gather that online learning is increasing in popularity. I also found there are many benefits to using online learning as a tool or way of teaching in this century. However, I was discouraged to find that minimal progress has been made in the lower levels of school. The data showed (on the infographic) that there are increases, in millions, when it comes to post-high school online learning. My goal using the infographic was to show how beneficial it is and hopefully be able to start an online class in the high school level. I believe the infographic to be a snapshot of how successful online learning can be in the high school level.
The many benefits when it comes to personalizing education and having students work at their own pace are two most beneficial parts of using online education. If students could be more engaged and productive, why wouldn't we try online classes? This research also made me wonder why more high schools are not employing online classes in AP fashion? If AP students are projected to be the most "college ready" then why are they not exposed to college-like classes by structure? The challenging pieces of AP classes are the rigor; reading and coursework. However, the format is still face to face. These would be areas of research I would enjoy continuing.
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