To Test or Not Test...Is that REALLY the question???
I think that it is more accurate to ask, "How to test?" There are many different forms of assessment to evaluate several different forms of knowledge and skills. Can you you did a surgeon a multiple choice test and from its results determine he is a good or terrible surgeon?? No, of course not. But, it might be a piece of the data that helps to formulate his knowledge about the human body. Assessing students' knowledge should be done with many different forms of assessment tools to get the best and most accurate data.
It is no secret that everyone learns differently; consequently, everyone should be "tested" with several different forms of assessment. Not to mention, as illustrated in the example of the surgeon in the first paragraph, understanding what you want as an outcome is important in selecting your assessment tool.
There are many different assessment tools. In my 9th grade English class I use everything from "traditional" tests and quizzes, to journal entries, projects, portfolios, software application, presentations, etc. It is important to understand what your motivation is for the assessment as well as the desired outcome or skill/knowledge. All of these forms can be assessed objectively. Whether the answer is right or wrong or whether it met the requirements on a rubric. Well designed rubrics can be objective yet allow for "above and beyond" mastery to "outside the box thinking". Traditional test and quizzes do not allow for the above and beyond or outside the box thinking. They tend to be more limiting in results. I, personally, love rubrics. They allow me to clearly state the content or skill I want my students to master, yet they leave the mode or method up to the student. I love that! Grading the same thing 146 times gets REALLY boring, but when the final product can be as different from night and day yet still reflect the target content, it makes grading not such a chore. It is also exciting to see student's personalities, interests, and creativity come out in their work. A traditional test doesn't lend itself to that!
In conclusion, objective tests are not the only way to assess students knowledge. It is but only one piece of the big puzzle.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Week 6: The Technology Enriched Classroom
In a technology-rich classroom, every child is equipped with a Wi-Fi capable firewall-protected laptop. There are bluetooth-enabled peripherals, such as printers, scanners, and projectors. There are also hand held computers and every other possible technological advantage.
The Internet could be used not only for static research but for real time data. Envision a project with a real world connection or problem for students to attempt to solve. Now, imagine a project where the children can chat with experts in various fields or email their opinions to children in other countries, testing hypothesis online and sharing information with applications found in programs like Google Doc. They would then create PowerPoint or Prezi presentations from their research. They could beam drafts of information to their teacher for immediate feedback. They could create charts and graphs using Excel or Create-a-graph. They could enhance their writing, using the computer to take them through writing workshop and all the steps of the writing process. They could use Inspiration or Kidspiration to do their prewriting, and Word to do their drafting. They could then email or beam their information to their teacher for assistance with editing and revising. The teacher could communicate by adding comments to their work and sending it back to the student via email or beaming. Finally, the students could use Publisher to produce a final copy or use FrontPage to turn their work into a Web or classroom Blog page. There could be peer-to-peer conferencing without the students ever leaving their seats with applications like wallwisher and keepandshare, and that is just the beginning!!
One curriculum that promotes THIS type of educational experience is the New Tech model. Check out the New Tech Network website and learn how the classroom of the future is here!
New Tech Network
http://www.newtechnetwork.org/
Video:
http://www.newtechnetwork.org/node/71
The Internet could be used not only for static research but for real time data. Envision a project with a real world connection or problem for students to attempt to solve. Now, imagine a project where the children can chat with experts in various fields or email their opinions to children in other countries, testing hypothesis online and sharing information with applications found in programs like Google Doc. They would then create PowerPoint or Prezi presentations from their research. They could beam drafts of information to their teacher for immediate feedback. They could create charts and graphs using Excel or Create-a-graph. They could enhance their writing, using the computer to take them through writing workshop and all the steps of the writing process. They could use Inspiration or Kidspiration to do their prewriting, and Word to do their drafting. They could then email or beam their information to their teacher for assistance with editing and revising. The teacher could communicate by adding comments to their work and sending it back to the student via email or beaming. Finally, the students could use Publisher to produce a final copy or use FrontPage to turn their work into a Web or classroom Blog page. There could be peer-to-peer conferencing without the students ever leaving their seats with applications like wallwisher and keepandshare, and that is just the beginning!!
One curriculum that promotes THIS type of educational experience is the New Tech model. Check out the New Tech Network website and learn how the classroom of the future is here!
New Tech Network
http://www.newtechnetwork.org/
Video:
http://www.newtechnetwork.org/node/71
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