We use assessment activities to authentically evaluate learning. Since they have created the authentic assessments, educators have begun to get rid of older evaluation methods that just sort students by the assessment system. Assessments are a way that educators gather information and analyze data to see if students have learned what they intended for them to learn. Educators are beginning to move towards the technology based assessments because it easier to keep track of students grades instead of shuffling through papers and trying to keep everything in a file. Using electronic assessments makes it easier for not only educators but also for students. It seems like this would be more trouble because there is more data to collect and builds anxiety for students but researchers say to consider it a easy to use technology based to quickly gather the data and see if the learner is understanding.
E-portfolios are a collection of a student’s bio, work, and overview of the course. These electronic portfolios are helpful for both students and teachers. A couple ways that the portfolios simplify things is that they reduce physical storage requirements, easier to edit, and it can be updated. Computer based tests are tests, quizzes, or any assessment that is given by an educator using a computer. The fact that the assessments are computer based does not take away from the validity or reliability of the results. The educators that give the tests can actually download results, provide feedback, and send scores to respondents.
Giving assessments in schools are necessary to for teachers so that they know whether or not their students are understanding the material. The government has set up stated mandated tests such as the TAKS test but then teachers began doing what professionals call "teaching to the test" and they feel that the students are not learning what they need to when teachers do this. Even with all of this said assessments are still necessary and will remain in the schools.
Works cited
Jonassen, D, Howland, J, Marra, R, & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful learning with technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Merrill/ Prentice Hall.
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You're right, assessments will always be a part of the educational system. It is impossible to evaluate the learner without them. It is sad however, that teachers feel the need to "teach the test."
ReplyDeleteI think that if students were taught to think critcally and to understand how to reason, then they would be more likely to pass the test, withough having to be taught the test. I remember being taught the test, and it wasn't until my senior year of high school and in college until I really started being required to really think and understand why things happen. I think reflection is such an important part of assessing a learner.