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Technology to Support Assessment

10/12/2014

In the 21st century, technology is the prime source of learning that schools, organization, and businesses are using to communicate and collect data on a specific subject or item. Technology gives students the ability to do homework, find resources, and even get tutoring online. Technology in our schools makes it possible for teachers to interact and collect data much easier than the old-fashion paper and pencil way.
              One way technology is used to assess students is by having polls and questions put online by the teachers to find out if students understood the content that was taught by the teacher. The teacher has the ability to ask multiple choice questions and opinion questions on a website and the students will answer the poll questions by twitter, text, message, or by email. This concept is used is called “Polleverywhere” (Stobaugh, 2014). This site also gives students the ability to answer questions to the teacher anonymously. Skype and Prezi are more examples good technology tools that students and teachers can use for assessments .There is many other ways technology can be used to assess students and this really can make it much easier for teachers to assess the student.
              There are two ways to assess a student. The two ways are formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments are when a teacher frequently checks a student “progress and understanding in order to identify learning needs and adjust teaching appropriately” (Younglove, 2011). Quizzes and projects are done frequently throughout the lesson plan. Summative assessment is the “end-of-unit test, a semester/final exam, portfolio, or capstone project” (Younglove, 2011). Technology can be used for both assessments. Teachers can give online quizzes once or twice and use the website set up by the teacher for all students in the classroom. Teachers can also use that site to give more information or links for students to read on the lesson. Research projects can be given at the end of the chapter by the teacher and use online scholastic websites only to complete the research project. Technology of the 21st century can favor both assessments.
              There are pros and cons of using technology to assess student learning. A pro is that being able access computers gives the ability for students to work more quickly and more efficient. It makes it easier for teachers to grade and easier for student to take assessments on the computer. A con of technology is computers have the ability to grade multiple choice questions but when it comes to essay that might be assigned than the teacher does have to read each individual essay to score it. Computers are good to collect resources for projects but not good for actually grading the project. Technology in the classroom can also get a glitch or the wireless connection might fail that day and then have to go back to paper and pencil theory or even the plan “B” theory.
              Teachers of the 21st century should not only use technology to assess student learning. Technology gives great resource for all concepts to teach students but also hands on projects in the classrooms should be used as well. Student should also have creativity with and without technology usage. Students always have their eyes plastered on a computer device and never have the opportunity to look a teacher in the eye. Technology has cause students to have a lack of one on one conversations in regards to school work and socially.
              Assessments are a key to a student’s success or failure. Technology gives the opportunity for teachers to write up a lesson plan and use the common core standards. Common core is now readily available online for all teachers and they can use the online program and while the teacher is doing their lesson plan it compares it automatically to the ISTE standards. Technology makes it quicker for the teacher to make sure they are staying within the common core standards and also give some examples on how to obtain that lesson plan. It is important to follow the common core standards as much as possible because students will be tested state wide on those standards. “Assessment is an integral part of an education system and need considerable time and energy of teachers but with using new computer technologies, for designing, administrating and scoring, teachers can save their time and concentrate more on teaching and learning process” (Rastgoo & Namvar, 2010).
              Technology is here to stay. Technology is going to guide old and new teachers to a new way of student learning. Students will rule our future so all teachers need to teach and learn new technology and ways of teaching so our students will be up to par for their future endeavors.

                                              References

Enotes. N/A .Retrieved from: http://www.enotes.com

RASTGOO, A., & NAMVAR, Y. (2010). ASSESSMENT APPROACHES IN VIRTUAL         LEARNING. Turkish Online Journal Of Distance Education (TOJDE), 11(1), 42-48

Stobaugh, R., & Gandy, S. (2014). Seamless Integration of Technology into an Industrialization Unit of Study. Social Studies Research & Practice, 9(1), 146-153.

Younglove, B. (2011). (In)Formative Assessment: The Key to Accountability. California English, 17(2), 21-23.

West, Darrell. (2011). Center of Technology Innovations. Retrieved from: http://www.brookings.edu

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Differentiating Instruction through Technology

10/5/2014

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Differentiating Instruction through Technology

10/5/2014

1 Comment

Differentiating instruction is the new technique and latest method that is used in the classroom these days because of the fact of students having different learning styles. There are pros and cons of differentiating instruction and it can make it difficult at times for teachers to come up with engaging lesson plans for all the students in the class.

            The pros of differentiating instruction technology is that the students can work at their own pace and students become more learners and become more motivate to learn the concept (Knope, 2012). When students feel comfortable on the subject or technology they have learned then they will be motivated to demonstrate or participate more. Technology allows a student to be engaged at their own ability level with appropriate learning styles that meet their needs (Knope, 2012). Technology also does show a lot more visuals and voice aid for students with special needs. Student with special needs tend to learn better when the have visuals and interact technology. Depending on the special need of the student even hands on technology will keep them engaged and the teacher can set up lesson plans based on their learning skills.

            The cons of differentiating instruction technology is the lack of technology available in the classroom and student might have to share. Students tend to get distracted easily if they have to sit and wait for a computer, Ipad, or laptop. The high achievers will get very bored quickly and then become a distraction in the classroom. Differentiating instruction can be very lengthy in preparing a lesson plan for that day because the larger the classroom harder it can be on a teacher. It also is a lot of training involved to make sure how to handle and actually do a lesson plan for these classroom. It does take teachers many of years to learn how to really figure out how to implement or not implement differentiating instruction. For new teachers it can be very frustrating and exhausting.

            Teachers should not just use technology only to differentiate because a student really needs to be evaluated not just on technology ability but also creativity and find out if the students reading and math levels as well. Teachers need to know at what level a student can write, read, and figure out math problems on paper. Teachers also need to know if students needs hand over hand help on basic cutting and pasting objects on paper. Teachers need to know if student know how to find out pictures on paper and be able to identify with minimum help. Students need to know how to function in everyday world and being able to read, write, communicate, cut, paste, and even just distinguish objects that appear in front of them on paper.

            There are many opinions on teachers using technology as the primary resource in differentiate instruction classroom. Teachers were surveyed and stated differentiate instruction through technology is a must especially in reading. Teachers stated the technology give the ability to monitor and access the progress of a student. Teachers also think they will use technology almost all the time for collaboration assignments. “Teachers think technology is important to assist students in digital video and reflections of the overall achievement of the technology use” (Bailey, Willams-Black 2008). The only thing teachers think technology is not always great is when they teacher in low income area’s and students do not have access to internet at home to do projects or assignment so technology is only limited to the classroom.

            Student achievement has increased over the years when technology is used in differentiate instruction because teachers now can have programs or internet sites for students at different learning levels. Technology in the classroom helps students use their higher order of thinking, creativity, research skills problem solving abilities, and reasoning. Technology also has a great impact on student achievement is the ability to modify and accommodate for special needs children. Making the fonts bigger and brighter, using visual pictures, read out loud computers, videos, and audio (Adesola, 2012). These functions will help achieve success on lesson plans for those special needs students as well. Technology helps student achievements in reading due to the fact technology is available to set up lesson plans depending on the student learning needs.

            The student-centered classroom is now how teachers set up the classrooms. Classroom are no longer set up in the old fashion way of facing forward and listening to a teacher lecture. The classroom is set up in groups so the students can collaborate and work with each other. This is important because it encourages and engages students in scholastic conversations (Lawerenc, Ehow, 1999). Student-centered classroom will also have area in the classroom that are considered independent learning centers. This is also very important because it give the students to explore concepts at their own pace.

            Differentiating instruction through technology will always be a part of the classroom and will continue to be worked on and items added to improve lessons. It will always be the important to make sure every student gets a change to learn at their own pace.

References

Adesola, S. A. (2012). USING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN A COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. Journal Plus Education / Educatia Plus, 8(1), 204-211

Lawrence, Bridget. (1999) Retrieved from:http://www.ehow.com/list_7644494_characteristics-student-centered-classroom.html

Nope ,Karen. (2012). Teacher Links. Retrieved from:http://teacherlinx.com/#!/lesson/4605/differentiated-learning-the-pros-and-cons

IAP - Information Age Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 79049, Charlotte, NC 28271-7047. Tel: 704-752-9125; Fax: 704-752-9113; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.infoagepub.com/products/journals/qrde/order.html

Bailey, J. P., & Williams-Black, T. (2008). DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION: THREE TEACHER'S PERSPECTIVES. College Reading Association Yearbook, (29), 133-151

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Presentation Technology

9/28/2014

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Technology in the classroom has come a long way from the old fashion chalk and chalk board. Technology has greatly enhanced and now teachers can use the internet and the smart board or white board to have interactive lesson plans. Technology could and will always have negatives and positives on the learning ability of every students.

Technology has many great learning aspects for the teachers to interact
and can help students stay focus on the lesson plan being addressed. Many students learn much easier when they have visual components like a power point presentations or a smart board interactive assignment. Technology also encourages collaboration of students in the classroom because of the ability to work in groups and use the computer, Ipad, or the smart board to completing group projects. Studies show that students who are engaged in class will attend class more and the participation level has increased drastically (D’Angelo & Wooley, 2007). Technology is a plus especially for special needs students that have a speech or intellectual disability. These students always need some kind of visual to learn at the correct core standards rate. Technology and the internet makes is very possible for teachers to get great interactive visual pictures for these students who fall in this category.

The only downfall that technology might have is the student may become
passive and tune out during a lesson plan and will fail to learn the necessary information that day (D’Angleo & Wooley, 2007). Another reason technology might fail in the classroom is when a student using the technology ineffectively in which it will decrease the students ability to learn that lesson plan for the day. Sometimes using technology in the classroom might hinder the student the ability to learn and really understand the concept being presented due to the fact that particular student is not a visual aid student. Teachers must really pay attention on those students to make sure they get the full lesson plan addressed to them on paper as well.

There really is more good than bad as far as technology in the classroom
and it enhances the teacher’s ability to have a broad range of areas and
resources to turn to help the student engage in the topic. It is as easy as
click of a mouse to bring up examples and demonstrations if
needed.

Most schools have gone wireless and the schools are glad they spend the
money to do this. Wireless connection have great advantages. The main difference between wired and wireless is the simple word wire. Wired classrooms have a lot of wires and need service calls more frequently. Wires in the class really can cause less space and inability to more around. Wireless connection allow mobility which allows the ability to move about the school and even outside the campus which gives anywhere and anytime learning opportunities (Walery, 2004). Wireless
allows flexibility and be able to move computers who have the wireless cards to other parts of the building in other classrooms if needed. Wireless also is a saving factor for schools as well because they do not have to pay for someone to run wires throughout the school. Most classroom have carts of laptops in the classroom that can just be wheeled out to another location.

Lastly, wireless has the capability and expandability by being able to
add on to the current network (Walery, 2007). Wireless connections and laptop have the ability to be turned off by the teacher. Wireless connection gives the ability for the teacher or student to access the web and has accommodations for all student learning styles and save them from themselves (Wireless in the classroom, 2006).

No matter what I think technology and wireless connections has really
improved on how the students are being taught and the ability to access material and lesson plans for visual and audio learner. It makes it much easier for students to stay engaged in the classroom and it makes it much easier for the teacher to get the lesson plan across. Technology makes is much easier for great interactive and group projects. Technology is great and fun.
                                         References
D'Angelo, J. M., & Wooley, S. (2007).
TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM: FRIEND OR FOE. Education, 127(4), 462-471

Walery, D. (2004). School Networks: Going Wireless. Media & Methods, 41(1), 26

Wireless Laptops in the Classroom (and the Sesame Street Syndrome). (2006). Communications of the ACM,

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Technology to Support Communication

9/21/2014

2 Comments

Teaching and learning is a big part of first year teacher and current teachers in our huge community of the field of “Education”. Teachers need to be aware and trained on new technology that is being used in the classroom. Technology is one of the biggest tools in the teaching and learning process of both teachers and our students of the future. Teachers who are well trained and educated with the new technology will be able to share and even learn from the students.
The white board is a great example of the new technology being used in
the everyday classroom. The whiteboard is an interact device that students use a special pen or keyboard from a computer to write on the whiteboard (Barnes, Sutherland, Curran 2005). There is also a digital white board that can project internet or programs on the whiteboard and a special pen guides page to page along with interaction of a student to be able to write or answer a question on the white board as well. The whiteboard is used greatly in Special Education classes due to the fact of student lack of abilities to write or speak. The Special Education population benefit from this technology greatly. The Special Education students feel like they are part of the class and feel wonderful about themselves when they get to go the board and use the special pen and
participate. The whiteboard also give visual learning options for all types of
learners.
There is many reason my multimedia technology is used and very important to teach our students of the future. It brings theory and a lot of practice in the classroom, it provides great information and makes learning fun for the students, gives students great experience in working together as a team on group ideas and projects, teaches students to develop personal traits, brings world issue and concerns into the classroom, getting to use new technology in the classroom for assignments, and being able to use analysis along with easy access to information (Bradley, Mbarika, Raju, Sanker, Kaba,
2007).
When technology is used in the classroom then technology and internet
security and safety also needs to be addressed. Our students are so prone to internet predators and are going on sites that are prohibited. There should be limits and expectations when using the internet, whether it is on the school computer or on personal cell phones. Internet safety should be taught proactively before the students are allowed to start using the devices (Defranco, 2011).
Teachers should establish a written policy on acceptable internet usage
behavior along with the consequences if not followed. The teachers should also have a class discussion on the rules and safety of internet usage. Teachers need to monitor and have the students write down what sites they visited for what subject matter. Using filtering software system that uses a blocking method on sites that are not allowed in the school system is another way for internet security and safety done in the classroom (Lindroth, 1998).
There are many ways to communicate with the educational community and a perfect way would to establish a blackboard online site for other educators in your community to be able to express their concerns or good ideas for other teachers to use in their classrooms. “Provide students and educators with one place to manage all aspects of their education experience – courses, campus events and news, extracurricular activities, advising, social learning, and more” (Blackboard Inc, (1998-2014). The
blackboard can be used for social learning tools for group collaboration, and organizations to collaborate and supply online tools for teachers and or students.
Technology has come a long way over time and will continue to enhance.
Teachers, parents and students need to be educated with all new and old
technology so they can maintain safety and security. Having open communication amongst everyone who is or deals with education should be mandatory and have a collaboration website for all to view and make appropriate comments, concerns, or share information.

                                            References

Armstrong, V., Barnes, S., Sutherland, R., Curran, S., Mills, S., & Thompson, I. (2005).    Collaborative research methodology for investigating teaching and learning: the use of
interactive whiteboard technology. Educational Review, 57(4),
457-469

Blackboard Inc., (1997-2014). Retrieved from:
http://www.blackboard.com

Bradley, R. V., Mbarika, V. A., Sankar, C. S., Raju, P. K., & Kaba, B. (2007). USING
MULTIMEDIA INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN MIS CLASSROOMS: A
TUTORIAL. Communications Of The Association For Information systems,
20260-281

DeFranco,
J. F. (2011). Teaching Internet Security, Safety in Our Classrooms. Techniques:
Connecting Education & Careers, 86(5),
52-55

Lindroth,
L. (1998). How to...improve Online safety. Teaching Pre K-8, 28(7), 20

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Technology to Support Assessment

Differentiating Instruction through Technology

Differentiating Instruction through Technology

Presentation Technology

Technology to Support Communication

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