| Assessment | Strengths | Weaknesses | Role of Technology |
| Observations- Teachers observe students’ behavior and classroom performance. | Teachers can find out first hand information past school work about their students. Some children that do not perform well in class or on standardized tests can be helped through mere observational information. | Sometimes the actions of a child can be deceiving. Children can change their demeanor if they know they are being observed. | Some observations can be done by using video cameras. The information can be logged on computers. |
| Interviews- Teachers interview other teachers, parents, and students in an attempt to find information on the performance and progress of a child. | A lot can be learned about the students understanding of material through open ended questions. | Again, students can sometimes say what teachers may “want to hear” and not really have learned the material. | Interviews can be recorded on tape recorders, or video cameras, and logged on computers. They can also be made into podcasts for use of other teachers. |
| Exhibits- These could be science projects, research projects, group projects, or individual lesson projects; anything that can display progress or knowledge of a subject. | These can give a good insight into the overall understanding of a subject. Teachers can request certain information be included which can show understanding. | Exhibits could be very time consuming and depending on the assignment, complicated for some children. | The children can create exhibits with virtually endless use of technology. The exhibits could use video cameras and recorders for recording and displaying information, internet for research, and overhead projectors for explaining and displaying information. Creativity could expand the use of technology for the student. Teachers could record visually and take pictures of the exhibit as well. |
| Student Surveys- These can establish the attitudes and opinions of the class as to what strategies are working and what are not, as well as if information is being attained. | This can work like interviews in that open-ended questions can provide insight into what the student knows. This can be a way for teachers to know what strategies they are using that work and which ones do not. | Teachers may find out bad news about some of their chosen strategies. The teacher may not be willing to change. Students may not take the survey as seriously as they should. | The surveys could be created or taken using computers, as well as getting the results averaged and recorded. The surveys could also be done on individual sheets of paper after the survey questions are displayed on the SMARTBoard in class. |
| Exit Tickets- These will be filled out before the child leaves class in an attempt to understand if the child learned the material for that day. | These can give a quick response and snapshot as to what the student understood in the class that day and whether or not the teachers’ strategy for the day was effective. | In an effort to get out of class and in knowing that class is about to be over, the child may not put the effort into these as much as the teacher may want. The information may be inconclusive. | Like surveys, exit tickets can be created and taken via computer. These would be harder to take on a computer unless you have enough for the whole class. Teachers can be creative with these visually by using different computer programs to make them. |
| Student Generated Test Questions – At the end of a lesson or unit, have students create questions from the learned material. | Allows instructors to collect data about what students think is most important. Requires students to think beyond the “answers” as they must process the creation of a question based on the answer. | Difficulty getting students to create high level, open-ended questions. | Students can use Wikis (such as Wiki docs) to combine and collaborate questions. This can create a well-rounded review while also avoid replicating the same questions. |
| Reading Comprehension Quiz- Students read a section, article, etc. as many times/slowly as they want. Once quiz questions are administered, students may not go back to the reading. | Strengthens reading and comprehension skills. | Students that are not auditory learners may have more difficulty obtaining with this learning process. | Internet access will allow students the opportunity read a topic of choice and/or a specific, detailed topic. |
| Mind mapping/Graphing- Students use key words, ideas and graphics to implement concepts into diagrams. | Stimulates creativity and requires higher level thinking and organization skills. | More appropriate for visual learners as more auditory learners may struggle with this method of learning. | There are endless mind mapping software programs specifically designed for education (such as Kidspiration). |
| Group Work Evaluations – Use questionnaires to collect feedback on students’ reactions to group work. | Helps students and teachers become aware of effective ways to improve group assignments. | Not all students may be honest or take evaluations seriously, thus not providing accurate feedback. | A great way to provide feedback is through computer surveys. They are immediate, easy and can be categorized to provide information more efficiently. |
| Minute Papers – Provides a quick and simple way to collect written feedback on student learning. | Instructors can use this at anytime during a lesson. Will hold students accountable for their learning at any point of a lesson. | Prompts must be able to trigger student responses that will prove student learning. Can be overused. Expectations must be clear. | The minute paper strategy can be used and turned in digitally by way of email, electronic submissions, or through discussion forums. |
| Power Point, Smart board, or Promethean Planet Presentations (http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en-us/ http://smarttech.com/us) | There are many tools that can be used when answering the questions within the presentations. Some of the tools can take a poll of the students’ choices. Students can use white boards and dry erase markers or math journals to answer the questions in the presentations. | When the students are using white boards they may copy each others answers. The presentations may not meet the standards. Time to prepare the presentations. | If the school has the equipment available the results can be shown right away from the students’ responses. Teacher can create an excel spreadsheet with white board/ math journal responses. |
| www.APlusMath.com | After most games teacher can check ratio of right to wrong answers. Students cannot cheat off each other. Center or small group activity. | Need internet and computers. Teacher may have to prep computer for center/small group. Teacher can't see problems that were missed. Students may begin a new game without teacher's review of previous game. | Internet and computers are needed to complete any given assignment. Students can be taught the process of opening the internet, opening the website, and going to assigned games. Teacher can show students how to log in results after each game. |
| Charts: Column, Line, Pie, Bar with Power Point Presentation/ Digital Diary (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/CH010369001.aspx http://www.shutterfly.com/ http://www.simplyzesty.com/video/start-youtube-video-diary/) | Science- at the conclusion of an experiment or on-going project students will create a chart to demonstrate the data/ Video or picture conclusion. Students can be given a rubric but can be creative. | Students may not have the background knowledge on Power Point software or creating a video/ picture diary. Teacher will need to provide this background or have technology teacher complete this task. Students will need to be taught how to collect data and take video/pictures. School provides technology. | Students can use digital cameras and the various settings this provides, including video options. Video cameras and their various uses. Students will get to choose the style of charts to use to demonstrate the needed science information. |
| www.FirstInMath.com Just the Facts Game | Students answer addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts in 300 seconds. All correct answers are yellow, missed answers red. Students receive stickers as charts are completed. | Internet and computers needed. Program has to be bought and each student needs a login name and password to play. Teacher must approve stickers won. | Students will need to be taught how to go online, change website address, login to website, navigate to game. My students did very well as the year progressed. |
| Pop Quizzes | Teacher gives an assessment spur of the moment. Students have to use their knowledge and no notes. This shows the teacher what students are paying attention and retaining the information and what students are still struggling. | IF scored and students are not prepared there will be low test scores, dropping grades. Teacher may need to change their teaching strategies if low scores continue. | Teacher could use a Power Point, Smart board, or Promethean board presentation. Teacher could use various websites as well. |
| Letter of Advice | Students will show their understanding of the topic by telling others what they know. To be able to give advice about a topic, you have to truly understand it. | Students who have weaknesses in writing will struggle. | Students can type their letters of advice on Microsoft Word. |
| Debate | Students can demonstrate their knowledge by debating with their classmates. | Students who are shy may not do well in a debate. | Students can use technology to research the topic, use technology for presentations (videos, Smart Boards, etc), and use technology to organize their files. |
| Homework | Students have time to ask questions, practice, and work at their own pace. | Some students will not do homework, or they may do it all wrong and practice incorrectly. | Through social networking, students can interact with their classmates and the teacher in order to do homework online or just getting help. |
| Analysis of records & data | Students can analyze their own scores as well as those of their classmates in order to see their own weaknesses so they know where to improve. | Students have to want to improve in order to get anything from analyzing their scores. | Students can track their statistics on the computer in order to see their growth. |
| Video | Students can be creative and show what they know in a video. | Students who are camera shy may not feel comfortable with being in a video. | The video camera equipment along with the video editing tools used would incorporate technology. |
| Versa Tile Science- Address the key concepts of life, earth, and physical science. Build essential reading comprehension and promote process skills, such as analyzing data, interpreting graphs and charts, classifying, predicting, observing, and inferring. Emphasize on science vocabulary. | TEACH key science concepts using informative reading passages, diagrams, graphs, and tables. ASSESS student understanding with self-correcting activities. REINFORCE essential science concepts with links to hands-on Science Labs activities. | • Cannot be used to measure certain learning outcomes, such as creativity, oral communication, andsocial skills.• Susceptible to guessing.• May communicate the inaccurate message that recognizing the “right answer” is the primary goalof education.. | Skill Reinforcement for standardized testingIncludes four wireless remotes in eachClassroom Jeopardy Game SystemConnect the Link Pod to any computer's USB port |
| eInstruction - audience response system used in classroom to inspire and engage students.teachers give students paper exams in class and they are able to answer using their clicker. This savesteachers time grading the tests. | Clicker has level the playing field between male and female students so they performed equally well on test. | Clicker technology is cheaper and more reliable but replace infrared clickers with ones that use radio frequency.batteries will wear out shortly after activation. | Clickers wireless devices, which resemble small calculators, computer, projector, receivers |
| Constructed-response - Memory, recall, comprehension, and thinking and reasoning skills, including ability to organize ideas and integrate points. | Student responses more closely reflect skills needed in real life.• Relatively easy to construct.• Can be administered relatively quickly.• Test skills like organize and communicate ideas,• More difficult to guess the correctanswers. | • Time consuming to score.• Limited in their ability to assess complex thinking.• Scoring may be subjective and susceptible to evaluator bias, which can affect fairness and validity.• May penalize students who do not read or write well. | |
| Visualize Text - WordSift was created to help teachers manage the demands of vocabulary and academic language in their text materials. | • Higher level instructional outcomes(analysis, synthesis, evaluation, problem-solving, and cognitivestrategies)..• Allow for active student involvementthrough self- and peerassessment, which make them useful instructional tools.• Encourage students to move beyond the “one correct answer” way of thinking.• Can provide evidence of students’ in-depth understanding of a topic. | • Require the creation of a model answer and a scoring rubric.• Scoring may be subjective and susceptible to evaluator bias, which can affect fairness and validity.• Not an effective or efficient way to assess factual knowledge. | http://www.wordsift.com/ |
| Discovery Education-provides engaging digital resources which goal is making educators more effective, increasing student achievement, and connecting classrooms to a world of learning. | Can motivate and shape learning and instruction.Can help teachers gauge student mastery of required skillsCan help teachers determine whether students are prepared for tests thatare used for high-stakes decisionsCan help students improve their own performances | Are time intensive, so they yield a smaller sample of student behavior.Unclear directionsLead to inaccurate information | Quiz Library contains more than 2,000 complete Quizzesstudents connect the past and present with videosExplore career videos and learning activities that support STEM education across grades 6-8 |