Use of IT in Assessment…
Last week I presented at the 2012 QSA Conference as part of a Panel Discussion. The theme for the conference was Shaping teaching and learning: The assessment factor, this topic allowed for many interesting discussions to occur about assessment and the purpose of teaching and learning.
In particular of intersted was the conversations surrounding High Stakes Testing (NAPLAN, QCST). And the use of the data that comes from these exams. I’m not sure what my thoughts of these types of assessment are. I’m not even sure how I feel about Assessment in general but I do find it interesting that we still assess students by having them memorise a variety of things (facts, formats, ideas) and then regurgitate them in a 60 to 90 minute exam. Or even in a 2 or 3 hour exam. Apart from education I can’t think of any other time in life where you have to memorise the answer. I mean in most professions (and I’d love to hear from anyone where this is not the case) if you don’t know the answer you go and look it up. Perhaps Assessment needs to be more like this.
The panel discussion which I was apart of was “Quality Assessment Pracitices using Information Technology (p-12)”. This session had 4 educators (Ken Purnell, Peter Hay, Carole Hardy and myself) from both university and school settings. The panel session look at the following three questions:
- How are you currently using IT for Assessment in your setting?
- What issues and/or unexpected outcomes have you encountered in introducing the use of IT in Assessment?
- For someone intending to use IT for assessment what considerations would you recommend they make?
Each of the 4 educators used IT in very different ways… Would love to hear how you use IT in assessment…
Here is how I use IT in assessment…
Related articles
- Has Assessment Evolved with Technology? (lynnmunoz.me)
- Key Terms: Assessment (bokcenter.harvard.edu)
- Assessment: Who’s in Control? (inquiryblog.wordpress.com)
If I See Another PowerPoint Presentation I’m going to screammmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Image by Clover_1 via Flickr
This is a very dear subject to my heart. As a business and economics teacher I really do hate seeing 28 presentations on a topic which all say the same thing and all look the same. Recently I presented at the Qsite Conference and I was extremely surprised at the number of people who hadn’t really thought about this. I get bored easily. I want to see students put their own personalities into their work. If I want to see the same 28 presentations I could just watch my own over and over and over again.
Why do teachers find it so hard to let students use their imaginations? I have seen some amazing examples of letting students go nuts with their imagination and a multi-modal piece of assessment. Radio interviews with Mother Nature to explain Global Warming, Students bringing in Row Boats to explain the concept of Imports and Exports, Websites, Trade Displays, Role Plays, Sock Puppets…
The best part is the learning which takes place without theme even realising it!
Here are my presentations from the conference on the Multi-Modal Assessment. I have had to remove the student examples due to privacy. Happy to discuss this further…
Multi-Modal Assessment Presentation
Multi-Modal Assessment Handout
Related articles
- Practice what you Teach (saskateacher.wordpress.com)
- Technology Integration – Presentations (tracyfeltonbportfolio.wordpress.com)
- No PowerPoint (q-ontech.blogspot.com)
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