Assessment Using ICT
Using ICT for assessment in the classroom is an innovative way of increasing student engagement in a flexible and creative way. Examples of various forms of ICT that can be used and manipulated for assessment and student interaction include; blogs, wikis, Twitter, Facebook, Google Maps, Google Earth, YouTube and Google Apps. (Campbell 2013, pg34 – 40)
A few examples of how ICT can be used to assess student progress:
Online educational games – students able to play them according to the level they are comfortable at. For example, this maths online game allows students to pair numbers with the matching number that will equal 10.
https://www.knowledgeadventure.com/games/math-lines.aspx
Other examples include:
- Using blogs instead of school books to record school work,
- Online quizzes (able to put a timer on the answering of each question),
- Multi-modal presentations (I did a lot of these at school and found them very helpful in learning about the topic),
- Group assignments (group members are able to communicate outside of the class via programs such as Skype, Facebook, email, messenger etc),
- Photo stories (students are usually required to complete a project that talks about themselves – in primary school I had to do one on a poster – a much more engaging way to do this would be to do a short video or photo story using programs such as MovieMaker or PowerPoint) and
- Offline educational games/programs such as the many touch typing programs people can access – students each having a profile to work on.
Advantages of ICT for assessment are broad. If a student is away, they are still able to complete tasks such as online quizzes/games etc, when a teacher is away they can prepare and organise the lesson so that the students are not at a disadvantage (eg. Pre-record a class/prepare a presentation beforehand), there is a great amount of flexibility according to each individual student’s needs and there is unlimited resources – teachers literally have the entire world to play with.
Campbell (2013, pg. 34) “One of the most effective ways to improve student learning is to use technology in both teaching and assessment.”
Disadvantages are that many teachers are inconsistent in their use of ICT for assessment, meaning that it can still be daunting for students that are not used to the software. Also, it is limited to the school and students resources – what if the students cannot afford a laptop or the school does not have compatible software?
The disadvantages I have mentioned are not permanent, the more technology grows the more schools and homes will also.
Traditional Assessment.
Assessment using ICT.
Here is a short video clip of a student using an Ipad to complete an activity. Notice that he is 100% engaged with the activity and that with scenarios such as this one, there is no risk of other students copying the work of another.
*Click on the link below or scroll to the end of the page to see the embedded video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5GKnfuKFZ4
I think there is no option whether to use ICT in the classroom for assessment or not. It is CRITICAL that students are taught to use ICT in assessment, giving them important skills that they will carry with them for long after school ceases. I will definitely be going to a great effort to include as many types of ICT in the assessment of my future students as possible, depending on the limitations of the school and circumstances.
References:
Books:
Kent, P. & Campbell, C. Technology for Assessment. Chapter 5 in Assessment for Teaching Today: A guide to assessment strategies and activities. Sydney: Macmillan.
Videos:
Ipads in the classroom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5GKnfuKFZ4
Images:
Traditional Assessment
https://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/cartoons/2012/6/20/1340194927119/students-taking-exams-008.jpg
Assessment using ICT
https://studentwire.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/PowerPoint-13803856.jpg
Online Game:
https://www.knowledgeadventure.com/games/math-lines.aspx