Blog Following - Digital Assessments and Communication in the Classroom

This week on Erin's blog we are looking at digital assessments and how to communicate results with students. Digital assessment is becoming the norm in most classrooms as teachers look to use less paper (and smaller teacher bag loads!). 

It also saves time and allows for instant feedback (instead of remembering them two weeks later when you find them under the stack on the coffee table). However, making sure your students receive their feedback can be tricky. 

Here are a couple of suggestions from the blog:

1. Develop a system for digital assessments

You need to know exactly HOW you are going to grade, and HOW you are going to communicate those grades to students/parents. You may create your own forms or find some that you want to use.

2. Help Students Prepare for Digital Assessments

She suggests that you might find that students tend to score lower on these types of assessments. It is super important that you help your students prepare for assessments. A couple of ways for you to communicate with students and parents is to send home some sample questions as part of a study guide and/or give them a review assignment that has sample questions to complete prior to the test. You can even make the review online to give them practice answering questions on the computer.
3. Baby Steps to Digital Assessments
Practicing together the first time is one way to get students ready. You could also have them complete the test using paper/pencil, and then have them enter their answers digitally. 
4. Parents and Policies
Be sure to inform parents of your plans for using digital assessments and how you will communicate grades with them. Be transparent, provide examples or videos of how the process will work. Be ready to answer their questions before you jump in! 

Comments

  1. Jannelle SchneiderMarch 17, 2019 at 6:52 PM

    Kayla,

    This sounds like a great way to get your students used to digital assessments. I really like the idea of allowing them to use pencil/paper then transferring their answers. I imagine the end goal is to be completely digital?

    Best,
    Jannelle Schneider

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kayla BreamMarch 18, 2019 at 1:53 PM

      Yes, that would be the ultimate goal. I think paper/pencil at first just to get them used to the format.

      Delete

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