Assessment is when teachers gather and synthesize information for the purpose of making decisions about their students and their classrooms. There are informal forms of assessment, like observation or verbal exchanges; there are also formal forms of assessment, like exams or homework. Teachers can also use feedback from students as a form of assessment. Evaluation, on the other hand, is when teachers take their assessments and use them to make judgments, assign value, or decide worth. There are two types of evaluation: formative and summative. Formative evaluation takes place before instruction to find out students’ past knowledge, and it can help in planning lesson plans. Summative evaluations take place after instruction to see how well the students performed. Generally, grades are a product of summative evaluation. One example of assessment and evaluation working together would be if a teacher gives an exam to her students (assessment) and then uses the results of the test to assign grades (evaluation). The teacher is assigning a value to the information assessed from the test.
Teachers should perform formative evaluations with their students to be able to gauge the level that their students are at in terms of using the technology. Teachers may need to provide lessons on using the technology they’re requiring for the projects, so all of the students are able to complete their task. Once the projects are finished, using rubrics is a quick way for teachers to evaluate them. Still using technology, there are many web sites (ie. http://www.rubrics4teachers.com/) that can help teachers quickly build a rubric.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
In my opinion, informal assessment is the most valuable type. Being able to observe students when they aren't under pressure will give you the best picture of who they really are and what they really need or struggle with. A student may be too shy to ask for help (and a teacher may think that he/she is on track) or they may have test anxiety and not perform to their capabilities on a test (therefore a teacher may mistakenly think the child needs improvement). I think informal assessment allows a teacher to observe needs without the pressure of testing.
ReplyDeleteI really like what you said about using formative evaluations to see how much technology the students really know how to use. I have been in classes that teachers didn't know that over half the class didn't know how to use the technlogy and never gave adaquate instruction on how to use it. It makes the students spand more time trying to figure out the technology rather than learning the things that they will need to know later on.
ReplyDeleteAssessment is such an important part of a students school life. For some kids the pressure to excel and for other to just keep their head above water presents challenges for an educator to provide the right type of assessment. Using technology to help not only the students but the teacher as well can be a lifesaver. I have seen teachers incorporate technology very well in a classroom and others that yet to discover the computer! There needs to be a good mix of assessment and technology.
ReplyDeleteI believe that assessment and evaluation isn't limited to students, I think teachers should use it as well. They should self evaluate and assess themselves daily. If your students aren't engaging you in discussion in a literature class, for example, maybe you need to go back and teach the lesson again or scrap what you are trying to teach and teach another lesson entirely.
ReplyDeleteI think using technology to assess your students is an excellent idea, if your students are designing a website or a blog, for example, this will allow the students to creatively display what they know and they won't be confined by the parameters of a normal test. It is a lot of responsibility to lay at the feet of your students but technology isn't going away so it is better that you help your students learn how to use it sooner then later.
I agree that teachers should use the technology in instructing the students on the project. Some students will be bored from over-exposure to the information, but most will appreciate the visual example and be more confident in doing the project themselves. I also appreciate Nathan's comment on how teachers should regularly assess and evaluate themselves on the work they are doing.
ReplyDeleteKeeping up with current technology is a must if you want to teach kids who have grown up around it. You need to either use computers and projectors, or simulate the fast paced information exopsure that comes from video games and television shows to keep the interest of the kids.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you want your subject to have real-life meaning to your students, you have to show them how to use the technology of today that is associated with it.
Rubrics are ok, but sometimes they can get out of hand and become so lengthy that students will have difficulty understanding what is actually expected. And we all know--because most of us do it ourselves--that students will take any opportunity to rationalize procrastination or inadequate performance; especially if they can blame it on the teacher or that teacher's lack of clarity.
ReplyDelete