PLO 6 & 7

MATLT Program Learning Objective(s): Program Learning Outcome 6 & 7 :Evaluate technology resources to facilitate effective assessment and evaluation.  Utilize technology to collect and analyze data, interpret results, and communicate findings."

This project illustrates the use of technology in the classroom to assess and evaluate student learning outcomes.

Introduction

The use of technology in the classroom for assessment and evaluation continues to be an important implementation in classrooms, organizations, and schools in general.  There are many testing resources out there to choose from, and school administrators and employers need to be educated on the right software that will yield the result they want, as far as assessment and evaluation goes.  There are softwares for the education sector, and softwares for the employment sector, making the right choice could save you money and time.

Prior MATLT Activity of Program Learning Outcomes 6 & 7

            I wrote a memo to my principal, about the usefulness of the use of technology in teaching, learning, assessing and evaluating students.  I recommended a few softwares that we could implement school-wide.

The two softwares I recommend were:

            Productivity software -typically generic business-application software that educators can use and adapt for the administrative and professional tasks they must address. Word processing, spreadsheet, and database management software are all examples of productivity software.

             Classroom management support software is usually customized software written for educators to help them manage school and classroom tasks, including the creation and maintenance of seating charts, class rolls, student records, or school budgets (Lever-Duffy, McDonalds, 2005, p.136). These two softwares help administrators and/or educators do their jobs more effectively and productively.

“The productivity Software, assist educators in preparing memos, letters, reports, and budgets. It assists educators in tracking student information, computing grades, and preparing lesson plans and IEPs.” (p.137). The Classroom Management Support Software, assists educators prepare required reports, assists in tracking and reporting grades; helps seating charts, roll calls, and other classroom charts; assist educators in analyzing grade and student data for better academic decision making. (p.137).

As with each software there are benefits and there are challenges.  However, in this case the benefits outweigh the challenges. The challenges to each software is extremely time consuming; it may take time to become fluent with the program.  There are step by step process that is required to complete a task. There will be training involved for both administrators/teachers. The benefits involved with each software is that the school will have all information in one central location where information can be merged for easier access.

Principles and Theory Chosen and Why

            To demonstrate an understanding of “technology resources to facilitate effective assessment

and evaluation” and Program Learning Outcome 7 “Utilize technology to collect and analyze data,

interpret results, and communicate findings”, I delivered lessons daily, with built-in assessments for understanding.  At the end of each quarter, students will be tested on the lessons given with the Frontrowed software.  After students complete the test, scores are calculated by the Frontrowed software, which gives me how many students improved and by how much, which students exceled in a particular subject, and which students I should use to tutor which students in the classroom.  This software is able to utilize technology to collect and analyze date, interpret results, communicate findings, and make suggestions on the best way to help students by reteaching subjects in a way that students will understand enough to improve scores in the future.

Challenges and How They Were Overcome

            The challenges to each software is extremely time consuming; it may take time to become fluent with the program.  There are step by step process that is required to complete a task. There will be training involved for both administrators/teachers.  To overcome these challenges, administrators have to allow teachers ample time to learn to use the software, offer paid training time, and test the product before allowing for official use.

Solving Problems

            The benefits involved with each software is that the school will have all information in one central location where information, including analyzed data and scores can be merged for easier access.  Such system is very rare in an institution or school districts.  Schools tend to use different softwares for each aspect of the school’s activities.  Having all information about students in one central location makes it less stressful for both administrators and teachers.

Conclusion

            Assessment is an increasingly common practice in the education and employment sector. Whether discussed as a measure of student learning, cost-effectiveness, administrative efficiency, or the value of technology, assessment is on the minds of many stakeholders. Assessment has different meanings and whether or not it is useful and effective, depends on the results that we seek.  

 References:

Lever-Duffy, J., McDonald, J.  Teaching and Learning with Technology. (2005).