Tests as assessments of student learning

As a teacher, we observe many things in the classrooms.  We observe students that struggle on some concept and then see the light go off as they get it.  We also see some students who do a great job on classwork, participate, and seem to understand how to describe a process.  However, when they take a "test" they close up and perform poorly.  Because of this, I do not believe that tests are the only assessments of a student learning.  

We need to administer tests for that number grade and to give parents something to look at.  However, there are so many other ways to assess students these days--especially with technology.  Below are a few of my favorite ways to assess a child:

• Projects--I love to have students complete projects!  They can be so creative when given a few materials.  Technology also offers many ways to show learning through projects.  Students can create all types of presentations where they can include their knowledge of a particular subject area.  They can work in groups and collaborate on their projects.  They can peer evaluate one another as they work.  They can ask questions to their classmates and can be enlightened when their classmate "teaches" them a thing or two.
• Conferences--I learn a lot about a student and what they understand when I can conference with a child. They are more willing to offer up their questions when it is just one on one and not be shy about asking in front of their classmates. 
• Small Groups--Working with students in small groups helps me to see also what they are capable of doing.  I can watch them interacting with me and their classmates at the table and assess what they still need to master within an objective.
• Class Discussions--I can also learn what a student knows by the class discussions we have.  I can ask questions that will make everyone think and call on different students to lead the discussion.  Discussions can also go in so many directions depending on what students are interested in.  
• Journaling--What a great way for students to be able to get their thoughts out and really show what they know.  This could easily be used for a grade as long as a rubric is given so that students know what is expected.
• Portfolios--I would love to have my students create an electronic portfolio so that at the end of a unit, I can really see what all they have completed and learned.  This again would require a rubric to use it as an assessment.

So, as you can see, there are so many different ways to assess a student other than a paper and pencil test that gives so many students anxiety.  Below is a great video that shows a great example of an informal assessment made fun.  Enjoy!

What does a technology-infused classrom look like?

My idea of a classroom infused with technology is a classroom where the computer, smart board, and tablets don't have a bit of dust on them because they are being used.  The teacher tries to include some type of technology in every lesson that he/she teaches.  The teacher has students using technology every day--in many different ways.  The below cartoon is a bit of an exaggeration, but I love the message that it sends.  Our students are surrounded by technology.  We must keep their attention by using it and teach them how to use it best for educational purposes.


My son is in middle school.  Our district is a one to one technology district in grades 3-12.  Last year, his teachers were able to incorporate Google apps into many of their lessons.  Google actually came out to their school and videoed students and teachers using the Google apps and showing how to be a technology-infused classroom, specifically with the chromebooks.  My son was in the video that they produced and used in promoting the Google products.  (My son makes an appearance at 0:16, 1:23 and 1:39.)


It was so neat to see how many different ways they could incorporate the technology into their lessons.  They used it across the entire curriculum.  The students were motivated and excited to learn.  They were cooperating with one another and helping each other to learn and succeed in their education.  I loved how the administrator said that we teach the 21st century skills because we have a 21st learner.  This video is a great picture of what a technology-infused classroom should look like and how the students should be involved in the learning.

How can visual literacy and the use of the Internet impact the teaching and learning process in the classroom?

I am a visual learner.  I get bored when someone stands up and just talks for a long period of time.  Lecturing is not my favorite thing to do or to sit through.  The internet is a wonderful resource for those students who are like me--visual learners.  It allows someone to see what is being talked about and not just listen to what is being said.  It gives them colors and images to associate with the subject matter.  Instead of someone describing to me in math what a cylinder looks like, the internet allows me to see many, many examples of a cylinder.  It allows me to see different sizes of cylinders and the many different ways that a cylinder can appear in the real world.

In my classroom, I like to show videos and images to my students when we are studying something.  When we study space, I love to have the internet at my fingertips to show them pictures of what the planets look like.  We took a virtual tour of the moon and of the planet Mars this past year.  It felt as if we were there when we were many miles away.  My students remembered these virtual field trips and talked about them throughout the year.

I also like to display a picture at the beginning of a unit and have students brainstorm about what they think the picture represents,  Sometimes I have them talk in their groups and sometimes I have them write down their ideas.  I have even used Padlet so that they could write their ideas for the class to see.  This gets their minds thinking about what is to come in our unit and what they already know about the subject matter.

The internet plays an everyday role in my classroom.  I am privileged to have each student assigned a chromebook at the beginning of the year.  They use their chromebooks to research, complete projects, watch videos of the subject matter, doing math problems and drills, and many other activities everyday.  They collaborate with one another in Google Docs and Slides using images and videos to enhance their projects.  They use their chromebooks as a tool to explore the world and become better informed on what is going on in their world.

Instructional Strategies in the 21st Century

     Over the years, instructional strategies have changed.  When I was growing up, we sat in our desks or if we were lucky on the floor in front of our teacher as he/she presented material to the class.  We read from our textbooks, we copied from the board, and when we were really lucky, we got to watch a filmstrip where one of our classmates was able to advance the film at each "beep".  I feel like we did okay with that type of instruction.  We didn't each carry a cell phone around and many of our classmates didn't even have a video gaming system in their home.  No one had a computer, only typewriters.  We were fortunate to have a computer in our classroom that had the big floppy disks with a game or two that we could occasionally play with our classmates.

    Fast forward 30 years and the instructional strategies are completely different.  No longer are students in their desks listening to a teacher instruct.  Students each have an electronic device at their desk and are viewing videos and completing assignments on them all throughout the educational day.  They "crave" their technology and can do things on their devices that sometimes even the teachers aren't able to complete.  They have been exposed to this technology since they were infants.  They have Ipads, tablets, phones, laptops, and gaming systems at their fingertips and spend more time on devices a day than they do outside playing ball and other physical activities.
    Because of this technological knowledge that our students have nowadays, we as teachers must change the way we instruct.  We can no longer stand at the front of the room the majority of the day and expect our students to learn as well as we did at their age.  Their minds are different than ours.  They want technological challenges as part of their curriculum.  They do best when they can solve problems with their technology skills.  They can create amazing presentations using technology.  (They have even taught me a few things about creating presentations.)

     Interactive lessons are vital to keep the attention of our students.  I have found many interactive lesson sites in which the whole class can be engaged in a lesson and be able to individually answer questions throughout the presentations.  I have also learned how to create a lesson where I can take a video and insert questions throughout the video for students to individually watch and learn.  These types of lessons will enhance the learning of my students and allow them to use their technology skills for their learning.
     The following video by the MacArthur Foundation gives some ideas others are trying to teach in the 21st century.

https://youtu.be/c0xa98cy-Rw