Sunday, September 30, 2012

Applied Technology... in Student Effort and Assessment


This week’s videos and readings discussed how we can use the technology tools to not only actively engage our students, but also how we might have them understand and reflect using their own knowledge gained by using these tools.

Student effort was a topic that was of great interest to me.  I find it a challenge to motivate my students to provide more than just the effort needed to pass, but maximize their potential.  Future success can be determined by effort today.  When students learn to provide maximum effort they will gain maximum results. “The instructional strategy of reinforcing effort enhances students’ understanding of the relationship between effort and achievement by addressing their attitudes and beliefs about learning” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007).  This is very true, yet is difficult for a teacher to address.  However, it is necessary that teachers work to correlate student effort to achievement in order for the student to realize future possibilities. By using technology to develop strategies for involvement, teachers can reinforce students’ input and self-assessment to assist them in taking charge of their learning. “Technology makes it easier for students and teachers to track the effects of effort and facilitates more immediate feedback” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007).

In terms of assessment, Solomon & Schrum also address the importance of involving students in their own assessment process.  Technology can provide not only tools for students’ to assess their own learning, but can also be used for authentic assessment.  “Perhaps the most obvious use of Web 2.0 tools for assessment would be for students to be able to show what they know in a wide variety of media” (Solomon & Schrum, 2007). The using technology tools such as electronic portfolios including word processing, spreadsheet and database programs in assessment is an engaging tool “in which students must use knowledge to fashion performances effectively and creatively” (Solomon & Schrum, 2007).

References:

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 155-164.

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: New tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education, 168-176.

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