First off, I wanted to give a quick update to my Week 2 post about bilingual education in California. Proposition 58 has passed! Students in California now have a choice to receive their education in multiple languages. This is a great step not only for the ESL community, but also for native English speakers that want to enhance their educational and professional opportunities by learning a second language.
Changing topics, I read this week about integrating technology into our assessments. This article on Education Week pleaded a strong case for ditching the traditional bubble-filling format of standardized tests in favor of a more interactive computerized test-taking format. The author cited a few reasons for making the switch, but the primary benefit would be that students would be taking their test in the format which makes them the most comfortable, which in this day and age is more likely to be electronically, rather than paper-and-pencil.
Initially, I thought the article was going to discuss the merits of using technology to completely change our assessments and evolve them into a more real-world application of what they learned. However, it seems like the primary goal of the technology integration as described by the article is merely to provide an alternate format of taking the same tests, or essentially bubble-filling on a screen instead of on a piece of paper. This disappointed me, but it made me think about how I can reinvent other assessments to include technology. For example, creating digital posters instead of paper ones, a Skype session instead of a face-to-face interview, or a WebQuest instead of a traditional research assignment. Additionally, maybe the simple format switch from paper to computer can pave the way for a total reinvention of the standardized testing process.
Here is the article: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/education_futures/2016/11/why_we_should_integrate_technology_into_assessments.html Oddly enough, I was able to read the whole thing on my phone, but when I tried to access the link on the computer, it wouldn't let me read the article without subscribing first. Hopefully it works for all of you!
I agree. Standardized testing needs to be changed. There really hasn't been any testing reform in years. Using technology as a different testing system has a lot of possibility, but if test makers are only using it as a paperless version of the same old thing, it's not helping anyone. Use computers and mobile devices to help students show connections or to demonstrate research ability. Clicking on the "A" bubble is absolutely no different than filling in the "A" bubble with a pencil.
ReplyDeleteThat is so great about Proposition 58! I had read your previous post and that is a great opportunity for those students. Using technology for assessments is definitely something that needs to happen! Even though the article didn't give too much, hopefully it is a start. I think it's great it got you thinking of ways you can reinvent your own assessments to include technology!
ReplyDeleteWe have a few teachers who do tests on the computer rather than on paper in my building and love it. They said it takes away all the work of grading, and parents and students get instant feedback. If continuing with same curriculum every year, all you have to do is enter the test the first time and its always there. The only issue they complained about was signing out the computers every time their students needed to take a test. I like the idea, it would make it easier for me in some ways!!
ReplyDeleteI also wrote about Proposition 58, not sure if you saw but Massachusetts also voted to change their instruction from English language only to dual language instruction. Now, hopefully they will be able to fill the need for teachers.
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