Healthier Testing Made Easy: The Idea of Authentic Assessment (http://www.edutopia.org/healthier-testing-made-easy)

It’s crucial to assess work authentically because as described in the article, research has been revealing, to the field of education, that testing and other older forms of assessment aren’t furthering the learning of students.  Wiggins states, “A good local assessment system does more than audit performance. It is deliberately designed to model authentic work and to improve performance. The aim of teaching is not to master state tests, but to meet worthy intellectual standards. We must recapture the primary aim of assessment: to help students better learn and teachers to better instruct.”  Unfortunately, the requirement for passing state tests and midterms/finals is considered to be more important by certain people than the actual learning which could be done by students if they were to be able to be assessed differently.             The days of solely lecturing and testing should be forgotten because students around the world have different learning styles and are best assessed by multiple methods, not just one method.  Students will be increasingly different as the 21^st century progresses from the generations of the Past because of their use of technology and necessity for multiple assessments during their school career. 

According to the article, “Students overwhelmingly report that the single most important ingredient for making a course effective is getting rapid response on assignments and quizzes.  An overwhelming majority are convinced that their best learning takes place when they have a chance to submit an early version of their work, get detailed feedback and criticism, and then hand in a final revised version. ... Students improve and are engaged when they receive feedback (and opportunities to use it) on realistic tasks requiring transfer at the heart of learning goals and real-world demands."  This was reiterated during the article and I believe that it’s crucial to this discussion because the research clearly reveals to people that students greatly desire teachers to respond to their work and critic it relatively quickly because they are of the mind that this allows them to revise their work and begin the editing and/or revision process, which furthers their learning. This process also appears to further engage the students because they are constantly working on their project, not waiting and waiting for their work to be handed back to them with little to no feedback or comments.  If this is the case, students probably place the work in their folder and never look back upon it; the learning which could’ve occurred is gone.   

   As a recent College graduate, my experience with teacher feedback was extremely varied.  Some of my professors handed us back our research papers and projects with numerous comments, suggestions, etc.  Certain classes would be solely devoted to revision amongst our classmates and professors.  Whereas, other professors would have little to no class time devoted to editing and revision amongst students and little to no feedback on our work.  This made it difficult for us because we wanted to receive some sort of feedback on our work, which research shows furthers the learning done by the students.   

            In order to effectively assess students, teachers should help them by giving them feedback upon their work and in my opinion, giving them class time to work with their peers through editing each other’s work.  Projects should have clear and concise objectives which will hopefully allow the students to learn what you are attempting to teach them.  As time progresses, students will change even more and assessment shouldn’t stagnate because it will harm the learning which could be done by your students.

Demonstrate the understanding of how technologies can effectively promote student learning

Throughout this course, we have definitely demonstrated an understanding of how technologies can effectively promote student learning.  For example, our Literature Reviews were largely centered around the use of technology in the classroom.  I watched a video called, Digital Storytelling using the iPad by Sam Gliksman.  It promoted the use of iPads in the classroom through their use of various Apps centered around Digital Storytelling.  Students would be able to use the Apps to create Postcards, Lifecards, Videos, Photo Projects, etc.  These Apps are great methods by which students can create some sort of Digital Storytelling project.

    Evaluate and use a variety of current technologies to enhance content instruction and to advance students’ technological literacy

In this class, we have evaluated and used numerous technologies so far.  These will definitely enhance content instruction and advance our students’ technological literacy throughout their school career. We were required to review and dissect two videos about technology in the 21^st century; which were: Growing Up Online and Distracted by Everything, the Digital Nation.  Essentially, we were able to learn and understand that children growing up in the 21^st century are going to be required to utilize technology in and outside of their school and work careers more so than previous generations.  By teaching them about Digital Citizenship and the use of numerous technologies, we are preparing them for their current and future endeavors.

Design meaningful and authentic digitally based learning experiences with multiple and varied assessments

In my opinion, our experience with the use of Scratch emphasizes our design of meaningful and authentic digitally based learning experiences with multiple and varied assessments.  We were able to work with and begin to understand Scratch during our conversation with Dr. Fadjo; who is a proponent of the utilization of Scratch in the classroom.  In my opinion, it was difficult at first but after tinkering with it, I was able to create a decent video.  I can see that this sort of project would be very good for students who enjoy creating and/or designing their own projects, instead of sitting through lectures, debates, etc.  Also, this is a great method of assessment because after the completion of the project, the students would be able to witness their own work come to life. 

     

Reflect upon and demonstrate effective use of digital tools and resources

As a class, we have been demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources throughout our experience with posting on Blogger.  Through Blogger, we have been discussing various uses of digital tools and resources which will greatly enhance the learning done by our potential students in the future.  Also, these entities will enhance the knowledge of the teachers because they will be able to utilize more technology and be better prepared to educate children.

Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of safe, ethical, legal and moral practices related to digital information and technology

In my opinion, we have definitely demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of safe, ethical, legal, and moral practices related to digital information and technology through our discussions about Digital Citizenship.  We learned that in regards to Digital Citizenship, students should understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and to practice legal and ethical behavior.  If we don’t teach students about Digital Citizenship, they will not be able to effectively utilize the internet and its numerous resources.  Teaching children about this phenomenon will help curb some of the worse online problems affecting children, such as cyber-bullying, kidnapping, etc.    

Illustrate through application how state and national standards are implemented within the curriculum (e.g., NH Curriculum Frameworks, ISTE (NETS-Teacher/NETS-Student) and NH-ICT Literacy Standards for K-12 Students

We have only just begun to work on this learning outcome through our beginning stages of our Lesson Plans.  In my experience, I am using the Frameworks because I’m associated with the Social Studies aspect of Education.  After the completion of our Lesson Plan and the Web 2.0 project, we should have a much better understanding of the implementation of state and national standards within the curriculum of various schools.  

Demonstrate an understanding of the use of adaptive technologies and other digital resources to personalize and differentiate learning activities for every student

            Once again, we have only just begun to work on this learning outcome through our beginning stages of our Digital Storytelling project.  As far as I know, we are all working with the program known as Animoto.  I can definitely visualize the effective use of this in the classroom by both teachers and their students.  This is a good method in which learning activities can be personalized and differentiated among students.  Students will be able to create and design their own video while gathering useful technological skills for the future.  

   

Evaluate, adapt and reflect on emerging tools and trends by participating in local and global learning communities and by reviewing current research and professional literature

Personally, I believe that portions of this learning outcome have been met throughout this class but it should be completely fulfilled by the end of the course. Participation in local and global learning communities is important because it allows teachers to gather more and more information about the Educational Community and newer and newer forms of technology; which will be utilized by teachers and their students in the classroom.  We have been reviewing some current research and some professional literature about this phenomenon but not too much.  Hopefully, we will have a greater understanding of this learning outcome after the completion of other classes within this program.   

Dr. Fadjo’s presentation was very interesting and informative, especially when describing literacy.

(https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/?ui=2&ik=ed85840202&view=att&th=1370a0b504f574f6&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_h1pecorl0&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P_Op4aMwGy9apXOXX_e4kTI&sadet=1336822989550&sads=17U_N5oJ7BO-gRJDThoM4BWEk_s)

 I never truly thought about what literacy truly meant; I just defined it as someone who could read novels, books, etc.  Whereas, illiteracy defined someone who couldn’t read novels, books, etc.  He went on to describe other states of literacy: such as computer literacy, medical literacy, etc.  The four things we do: Comprehend, Compose, Analyze, and Communicate, and the four things upon which we act: Symbols, Constructs, Depictions, and Representations also intrigued me.  In his words,

“To comprehend is to grasp something mentally or to understand.  We typically define something for ourselves by defining it on our own terms. If we are asked to demonstrate that we comprehend something, we communicate it through dialogue and evaluation, both formal and informal.” (Fadjo, 2012)

Comprehension is very important because students can read something which just goes right over their head until it’s done; whereas, if a students both reads and comprehends, they are able to learn something concrete from their reading material or other thing.

Personally, I enjoyed using Scratch and I can see its potential use for students.  (http://scratch.mit.edu/) However, I believe that it would take much more time to teach to students than one week.  I wish that I had downloaded it earlier and used it prior to last week.  I believe that my only difficulties were timing-based towards the end of the project.  I couldn’t get the two characters to speak to one another through the use of the green button so I assigned them the a,s,d buttons.  I largely figured it out through trial and error and notes I had taken during Dr. Fadjo’s presentation.  The website was also a helpful resource because I was able to see other projects and what Scratch was truly capable of given more time to work with.  In hindsight, I could’ve asked my other classmates but I didn’t think of it at the time. 

Scratch could definitely be used in the classroom because with time, students could create truly great projects on their own or with group members too.  I believe that it’s easily applicable to Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, etc.  While browsing the Scratch Website,  I saw projects devoted to each of these subjects so I’m assuming that it could be used for nearly every subject which students are going to encounter throughout their school career.

Personally, I could picture myself using Scratch with a Social Studies Classroom because of the large amount of projects witnessed on the Scratch Website.  There were projects devoted to the American Revolution, the War Between the States, etc.  I would have to acquaint myself much more with the Scratch Program because I’ve never truly worked with any computer programming myself.  With time and experience, I can easily see Scratch being used to help students learn about nearly everything.