Are tests the only objective way to assess student learning?

Objective assessment has the virtue of being reliable and the reputation of being fair (Indiana  University, 2002).  Objective assessment is a form of questioning which has a single correct answer (Wikipedia, 2015). There are many forms of objective assessments. Examples are true/false answers, multiple choice, multiple-response and matching questions. Tests are not particularly the only objective way to assess students learning. All the examples listed do not have to present themselves in a test form. There are many ways for objective tests to present themselves. Technology is a great cover up. Plickers is one fun and interacting way to assess student learning that does not fit test format. Watch how this classroom uses Plickers as a form of objective assessment.

Another form of objective assessment can be done with Today's Meet. Students can respond to
a question posted on Today's Meet. Watch how this class participates in answering questions. 

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References
(n.d.). Retrieved September 2, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_assessment  

Teaching in Support of Student Success: Assessment Strategies. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2, 2015, from http://www.iupui.edu/~idd/assessment_strategies/asm_3.05.htm  

Technology Infused Classroom

What does a technology infused classroom look like? If you think about computer classes as a kid, everyone was doing the same lesson that taught you something about the computer solely. You learned how to type, copy and paste or open up new programs. It is much more these days! Students are learning through technology. Technology is being "infused" into the classrooms by being integrated into daily routines and the curriculum. For example, students are learning how to copy and paste pictures of different phases of the moon in science. Students will range from the levels of technology that they are able to complete. In kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms student will be at the remember and understand stage. Hopefully some will get to the create stage where they can use technology to create something.

See how technology being infused in this classroom helps students get involved and motivated!

Some think they have to have these great technology lessons that drag on for days. Using technology a little bit each day such as a youtube video or students are practicing spelling words on the computer is a great start! How do you plan on creating a technology infused classroom?

Visual Literacy and Technology

Do you wish your students can interpret and critique images that they understand? Then try and use visual literacy. It creates a thinking environment with, about and through pictures. 
Visual Literacy is the way someone interprets an image to effectively communicate. Sometimes visuals are used with text or alone. Teachers are using them to relay information to students. Here is a new visualization of concepts in the ACRL Visual Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education.

Visual Literacy Array based on ACRL’s Visual Literacy Standards by D. Hattwig, K. Bussert, and A. Medaille 

Copyright 2013 The Johns Hopkins University Press. This image first appeared in PORTAL: LIBRARIES AND THE ACADEMY, Volume 13, Issue 1, January 2013, p. 75.

Teachers can combine visual literacy with the Internet to communicate effectively with students using less text. It can take place of pages of power points or lectures. Simply by replacing with images, videos and audio students can get the same information in less time. 

There are many types of visual literacy you can use in your classroom. Here is a list you can try:

• Photos
• Story boards
• Videos
• Cartoons
• Advertisements

There are many strategies you can use when you use them. All of them are based around discussions and what students see. You can use formal formats such as charts for the students to record ideas.

The Internet can play a huge role in your classroom if you plan for it. I plan to use blogging in my classroom in place of writing journals. Look at how this classroom have taken on Blogging as a hobby.  Blogging is a great way to get students to start writing!

Benefits of Instructional Strategies with Technology

There are many instructional strategies teachers help students achieve learning objectives. Instructional strategies are broken into 5 categories:
1. Direct Instruction
2. Indirect Instruction
3. Experiential
4. Individual Study
5. Interactive Instruction

It is important for teachers to choose wisely when implementing instructional strategies. When choosing instructional strategies teachers need evaluate the students ability and performance level. They need to think about the objective they want to assess. Many times teachers get caught up into creating big projects but forget about the objective. Using many different strategies within the classroom is key as well. The classroom is filled with many different learners; auditory, visual and kinesthetic. The teacher should try to meet all learners within teaching the same objective. 

How do we keep the students up to speed with 21st century skills? There are many programs out there that students can use instead of paper and pencil or to speak out loud. Students can use venn diagrams and concept maps on the computer. Students can have conversations with students in other classrooms on a topic. Having the opportunity to discuss through the computer gets shy students to share ideas. Students can take online field trips of places to add their experiences. The possibilities are endless when implementing technology within our instructional practices.

Some educators may ask why do we have to implement technology? This is our future. Our society communicates through technology. They can share ideas and implement them much faster. If gives the teacher a quick way to assess an objective. It gives all students a chance to show what they learned. 

Take a look on how technology is being implemented into this classroom and how the teacher is benefited. 

Technology and Instructional Strategies in the 21st Century

Our future is TECHNOLOGY! Let's prepare our FUTURE!

When you walk into a well behaved, engaging classroom, you might ask yourself, "What is this teacher's secret?" Over the past 7 years in my teaching experience I have grown so much as an educator. I would not been able to do so if I didn't have my co-workers. We have discussed strategies that have worked and not worked! There are a variety of strategies to use in the classroom. As new teachers you might want to focus on a few and work your way up until you feel comfortable in strengthening all areas! 

One of my biggest struggles teaching first grade is getting the students to work in groups. Students can learn a great deal from each but only if they are actually working and not arguing or off task. This is where technology comes in! Technology can play a huge role in group work. By assigning roles as you would in "non-technology" assignments, students will feel important in the group. Technology can eliminate moments of "off topic discussions" by keeping them engaged. Every student can feel successful using technology in the group. Students are able to display their work with talking using a computer. It allows everyone to show what they know. 



Another strategy is to allow students to share their own opinions and ideas. This creates a positive learning environment. Allowing students to share their own opinions and ideas is great if you have a perfect class size of 10! These days our class sizes are about 22-26. To allow everyone to share their own opinion would take forever. You could go the "turn to your neighbor" route, but then the teacher and classmates can't really hear everyones opinion. Once again this where technology can help! There are many online chat programs that can be used such as My Big Campus, Blogs, Wiki's, or even Todays Meet. These are all great ways for ALL students to voice their own opinion and to be heard by everyone in the classroom. It allows those students who are shy and normally would be passed up on in the classroom to share great ideas. 


Just by incorporating technology in these two areas will make a huge impact on your classroom. Not only will it allow students to feel successful but teachers will be able to pick out those students who need more support in content areas. Technology creates a fun learning environment that students don't even realize they are learning. It gives every student a chance to share their ideas and opinions. This is setting up children for the future of technology they are facing. If you could incorporate technology in your classroom, which area would you choose?



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