Blog Post

Introduction
Assessment technology is a form of assessments using technology to give formative and
summative assessments in the educational system. The advantages of why assessment technology will
be given as well as other softwares that may help provide student learning in the classroom. Utilizing
software to support assessment technology is important because
an alternative assessment is needed for three different reasons. First, to assess the conceptual
and meaningful understanding of students. Second, to place more emphasis on the learning
procedure rather than the product, and finally, to stimulate more effective learning and
teaching practice (Durmus & Karakirik, 2005).


Technology to Facilitate Ongoing Efforts to Assess Student Learning
Teachers are able to utilize software to evaluate students by giving assessments through
technology. It then can evaluate all the students and determine where students have the most
struggles and where the teacher will be able assess student learning better in the classroom.
Students using an assessment exam with technology have helped improve its remediation process
(Dean, Provost). Other great examples of ongoing efforts to assess student learning are the state
wide standardized/summative Galileo assessments that are now given to students through
computers. This method has been more convenient as being able to assess the students a lot
sooner compared to paper-pencil method given years ago. This assessment also lets the student
view the questions at a more minimal view compared to perhaps being overwhelmed at looking
at the whole assessment given. Modern technology has enhanced the teacher instruction and
student learning to an easier approach with a different learning style.
Power School Teachers use this specific software in taking attendance and tardiness for
being able to see if and how many days students may be absent from class. Students missing
class on a regular basis could result in poor student learning. Teachers also use sub-software of
power school called Power grade. Power grade is used conveniently for teachers to be able to list
student assignments, quizzes and exams in an efficient manner. This grade book automatically
counts up the points per assignment and then issuing the final up to date grade. This software
assesses student learning in making the grading and results back for teachers to understand where
and what they may need to do to better the student learning.
Beyond Textbook is software purchased from the school district to be implemented into
the instructional teaching by instructors. This software is designed to go hand in hand with the
teaching curriculum in which teachers must go by to instruct students. Beyond textbook is used
in the everyday classroom by the software providing weekly day to day lesson plans for teachers
to utilize in the classroom. Teachers use Beyond textbook to assess student learning in retrieving
the specific lesson plans, ideas and assessments given from the website/software. After
assessments are given, Beyond textbook also has an agenda to help reteach and enrich students in
helping those who need more time in catching up with the rest of the students. Teachers print out
weekly lesson plans to go by and from there develop ideas to implement those standards and
utilize the tools within Beyond textbook.
Educational Software games such as abcya.com, mathisfun.com starfall.com are several
software programs that are used every day in a computer lab in teaching elementary school grade
levels the basic skills in numbers, letters, words, math and reading. Teachers use this specific
software in helping enrich students learning in the areas that need to be practiced more with.
Typing also has become an essential part of all grade levels in learning how to work and type on
a computer. Technology has become a part of most educational systems to where it is beneficial
and part of a students grade to take a computer class in knowing the basics of how to use the
computer.

Formative and Summative Assessments
Formative assessments are considered a part of the instructional process and are intended
to help provide information needed to help teachers assess their instruction and to better help
students learn while the instruction if current (Myers). Formative assessments are also given on a
more frequent basis compared to a summative assessment. Summative assessment are given to
summarize what students have learned overall and usually are given after instruction has been
completed at the end of a school year, chapter, end of grade school, or at the end of middle
school (Myers). Technology can be used to facilitate both in very distinct ways. If giving a
formative assessment the instructor has the ability to print a ready-made formative assessment
off of Beyond textbook for example or may create their own using the many web tools available
online. When using a hard cover text book often times software are available with the book that
may be used to print off end of chapter summative assessments. Beyond textbook may also offer
the option of summative assessments. Technology is also used in state wide summative
assessments such as the Galileo tests given. Power School, Beyond textbook and educational
software games may be utilized as tools in determining assessments given to students. Formative
assessments may be given using these tools in demonstrating if the students understood the
lesson well enough to move onto the next lesson.
Pros and Cons of using Technology to Facilitate Assessment
The pros of using technology to facilitate assessment are the advantages of how fast you
are able to earn a grade, retrieve feedback and the convenience of using it compared to a paper
and pencil assessment. A major pro is the modern age of technology and how so many students
know how to use technology compared to writing in cursive. Technology seems to be a necessity
among school age children. The cons of using technology to facilitate an assessment that a
teacher may encounter are the monitors making a students eye sore, hand soreness for typing
and moving mouse, availability of softwares and assessments. Above all, technology has
become the new modern day age of instruction in helping provide student learning. It is up to
date and convenient in providing real life data and statistics in regard to just using traditional
instruction.
Should a teacher only use technology to assess student learning? Why or why not?
No, assessing student learning should not be the only reason why teachers should be able
to use technology. Using technology in instruction can help provide live information as well as
up to date information that is relevant to real time rather than a text book that may not. Using
technology in the form of taking assessments is also a convenient way of being able to view the
results of the classroom as whole in determining where instruction needs to be enhanced.
What is the importance of assessment technology in connection with the ISTE standards?
The importance of using technology in regard to the ISTE standards is being able to
facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity where instructors use technology to facilitate
experiences that help advance their student learning (ISTE standards #1). Instructors are also
obligated to design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments to evaluate
authentic learning experiences and assessments (ISTE standards #2). Teachers are to model the
usage of modern digital age in showing students knowledge, skill and collaboration. By
implementing the ISTE standards of technology, teachers will be able to incorporate the digital
technology world into classroom activities, assignments and assessments to help students engage
in a professional growth and leadership that will improve their professional practice.
Concluding Paragraph for Software to Support Assessment
Assessment technology has become a crucial piece of instructional aide to be used in and
out of the classroom enhancing the learning ability of many diversified students. It also helps
students engage in a more interesting manner as well as being able to retrieve data sooner to be
able to modify the instruction if need be. The World Wide Web provides valuable information
sooner than most and by search engines enables you to retrieve up to date information on any
given subject if provided. Several different softwares used by instructors to help the learning
experience for students was identified in giving detail as to how those may be beneficial in the
classroom. It is important because it is what the ISTE standards give to teachers to go by as well
as what the educational systems curriculum goes by as well. Assessment technology is
important because it used by a majority of our schools in this nation and is a part of the ever
growing digital age of technology.




References
Chan, S. W., & Ismail, Z. (2014). A Technology-based statistical reasoning assessment tool in
descriptive statistics for secondary school students. Turkish Online Journal Of Educational
Technology - TOJET, 13(1), 29-46.
Durmus, S., & Karakirik, E. (2005). A computer assessment tool for structural communication
grid. The turkish online journal of educational technology, 4(4), 3-6.

Evaluate whether students are meeting learning outcomes by using exam software. (2012). Dean
& Provost, 13(6), 4-5.
Myers, S. (2008). Formative and summative assessments. Research starters education (Online
Edition).
http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-T_PDF.pdf