This chapter on lesson development I found particularly intriguing because the concept of online learning assessments was brought up. I feel as though some of this could be very useful in the future and present such as having students perform a diagnostic test to better prepare what to go over in a lesson plan or students using a poll or survey. However, I feel as though tests and quizzes are still a grey area in regards to the fact that having an online test yields itself to having the student potentially looking up answers to multiple choice questions online if a computer is already in front of them. I think the online evaluation rubrics is a good idea because a student can monitor their progress and see how they stand in the class.
The whole approach to a lesson plan is arguably made easier with the progression of technology. A teacher can be better organized with their materials on a tablet or computer in regards to planning their student learning objectives and designing a lesson plan. I would most definitely make use of the technology available as a teacher in some capacity but since it rapidly progresses, I would have to see what is available at the time of class. Not too long ago Ipads did not exist and many programs that are seen as pretty standard today. We will inevitably make us of what is available in the future.
1. Do you believe having students perform a diagnostic "test" or "quiz" online before a lesson will better prepare you as an educator for your lesson the next day?
2.How do you feel about potentially converting all tests and quizzes to online assessments? What are the positives and what are the negatives in this regard?
3.What if the same resources are not available to you as an educator in one school as they are in a school with better resources? How would you potentially adjust?
Focusing on your third question because I have been in placements in the past where one school is fully stocked when it comes to having the newest technology such as Smart boards in all classrooms and ELMO Document cameras while others still had just basic computer labs and a overheard projector that was being shared with the whole floor. I feel as an educator its important to first know what you have access to and to adapt your lessons accordingly. I feel most things that one would do on a smart board or an ELMO can still be done without the technology, we as teachers would just need to be creative and think of other engaging ways to teach the lesson. It is unfortunate that some schools are less fortunate and are still using outdated materials and is an issue that should be addressed because if other schools that can afford to provide the newest technology for every classroom then maybe they should donate old materials that would be new to the underprivileged schools or at least provide support to those schools that need funding.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to your second question, I don't think that we should be converting all exams and quizzes to their online form just yet, if ever. Students could definitely benefit from taking some assessments online, but I personally would only assign small online quizzes to help students track their own progress. The benefits to doing so would be immediate feedback for the student so that he or she knows if they got the question right or wrong, and it would be great if they could try to correct their responses using the internet as a resource. At the same time, students who are taking more serious exams could easily use this as a way to cheat. Also, many tests like the SATs as well as those students see in college or at a job will be given in paper form for at least a few years into the future. If we don't prepare students to take paper-based exams, we are doing a disservice to them.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest defense for paper-based testing, though, is a student's ability to use certain test-taking strategies that can only be applied to paper-based tests. Such strategies include crossing out, underlining, or circling parts of questions, sketching out their train of thought to get to the answer, and physically eliminating answers on a multiple choice test. So many of the tests I've taken over the years have been marked up in their entirety, and those strategies truly helped me derive correct answers over and over again.
1. I believe pre-tests are an excellent tool for teachers and students. I love them because as a student I know what key points to look out for as I read or learn the lesson. Without them I tend to get lost in the material and feel like I need to catch up. As a teacher they are great for letting me know what students I need to focus special attention on or what parts of the lesson or unit I can eliminate or only slightly review.
ReplyDelete2. I don't believe everything should be converted to online. Some students would be disadvantaged because they fair better with paper based assessment. Also in certain subjects there are concepts that are better assessed in hand written form. (ie: math or science).
3. We would have to make do with what we have. For example if my school did not have SmartBoards I would have my students use interactive programs on the computer that make them feel as involved as a SmartBoard would.