Assessing student learning

When I think about assessments, tests are only one method.  Tests should not be the only way to assess student learning.  In fact, there are many ways to assess student learning.  They include projects, presentations, papers and portfolios.  Now with the help of technology, we can use e-portfolios, electronic presentations, projects and blogs.

Many times, non-teachers think that the best way to measure student learning is by using standardized testing, but it’s not.  The best way to measure students learning and growth is to use different tools.  Tests can measure what was learned during the week, quarter or entire year but that is only a portion of information that the scores give.  For example, for me to see how much students know about a topic, I prefer for them to create a product to demonstrate their learning.  I’m not saying that getting the correct answers on a multiple-choice test is wrong, but there needs to be more to show. 

As a teacher, I like for my students to see their growth over the course of the year through projects, papers and our quarterly test scores.  Since we are in a 1to1 laptop classroom, we have all assignments organized into folders by subject and titles on our laptops.  This method helps us stay organized and doesn’t require me to have a huge pile of papers to save.  So in my opinion, tests are not the only objective assessments of student learning. 

Technology-infused classroom

A technology-infused classroom looks like a 21^st century classroom.  It has technology that students and teachers can use whole group, in a small group or independently.  A projector or smart board is present at the front of the class, speakers that are connected to a wireless microphone and either a desktop, laptop, tablet or any electronic device for student use.  The desks are in groups since there will be a lot of collaboration and cooperative learning.  The laptops or desktops are spread out throughout the classroom so that students can easily access them and have their own privacy. 

This is how I picture a technology-infused classroom.  This also means that there is a lot of computer use by students and the teacher.  Most of the assignments or activities have some type of technology use in them.  The teacher facilitates student learning but most of the work is done by the students.  They learn how to use online resources to  gain knowledge and analyze the place where they are getting their information from. 

My current plan to have a technology-infused classroom

I teach in a 1to1 laptop classroom, which means we have laptops for every 4^th grader in my class.  They are stored on a desk in the back of the classroom where they can be charged and the wires are not in the way.  The students’ desks are aligned facing the front of the class in rows so that they could work together in threes.  The projector is at the front of the class and it is high enough for everyone in the classroom to see.  When laptops are in use, I can see what each student is doing and if they are off task because they are all facing the same way.  If they need to charge their laptop, then can plug their charger in to many of the outlets around the classroom, if there isn’t an outlet nearby, I have extensions for them to use.  We will also be getting wireless microphones for teachers to use that will go with the ceiling speakers that are already installed in our classrooms.  I don’t have enough room in my class to make sure that students have enough space between each group or row so I also decided to give them manila folders so that they could put them up in case they want some “private” space.  This enables my students to work independently or in groups in an easy way. 

Visual Literacy

Visual literacy is something that students in this generation are exposed to every single day in thousands of ways.  Teachers should be taking advantage of those things that students are familiar with and use them to teach them content.  The internet is filled with tons of visuals that are always persuading people to do something, buy a product or feel a certain way.  Visuals are more powerful than words and sometimes, as teachers we only focus on reading without visuals.  I know because in my classroom, we read different types of text, look at the pictures and read the captions but we don’t stop to think about what they mean. 

This video was amazing. It’s from 2012 but it had a great point on visual literacy in the classroom.

 

Visual literacy is being able to determine meaning from a given image or some type of visual. It is important to be able to read “visually” and derive meaning and show students how to do it inside the classroom and outside.  Most of the time, we ask them to determine the meaning from reading words and we forget that they are used to visuals.  If you think about it, kids know the yellow “m” stands for McDonald’s, which is food.  We forget how important visuals are even though we see them every single day.    

Some examples of visual literacy that I would like to incorporate into my classroom filled with 4^th graders is to ask themselves these questions:

and think about

I want the internet to be used as a tool that will enhance my teaching and the learning process in the classroom.  The internet is filled with many examples of visuals that can supplement any topic being discussed in class.  Sometimes, it’s better to see what we are learning about instead of reading about it. 

Instructional Strategies

Using a variety of instructional strategies helps students with different learning abilities and intelligences to be reached.  As a teacher, I know that not every student is the same.  They come from different backgrounds and speak other languages.  It is not right to assume that all students learn the same. 

One of the things that I was reminded of was Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences.  I know for a fact that there are students in my class that are in one of the learning methods discussed in the readings.  “Verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, musical/rhythmic, body/kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist and existentialist.”  I can tell the methods of learning that my students express in the classroom and it is important that I use different strategies to instruct them.

 Students of the 21^st century are used to learning with the use of technology, communicating and collaborating with others and that is something that needs to be implemented in daily instruction.  What worked for us growing up, may not work for students in this century.  Even though it can be difficult and stressful to incorporate technology into instruction, it is doable and should be done in small chunks until the teacher is comfortable using it.  For some reason, students are more engaged and pay attention better when technology is involved.  Technology is also able to reach all the different types of learners one encounters in their class.  This makes me happy because it can be stressful to think about all the different learners in my class when there is only one of me and 24 of them. 

Since knowing that technology can enhance my students’ learning, I try to incorporate it into every lesson, every day in different ways.  Being in a 1to1 laptop classroom, it is great to have laptops as a resource for students to use to learn at their own pace and at their own desk.         

Hello! I am excited and look forward to new learning and blogging!!