For most of us, school was boring, and we typically looked forward to the next holiday or summer, not to the next lesson our teacher had prepared for us or the final exam week. This is why it is important to have assessment activities; it lets us know not only how much one has learned but also how meaningful learning was. An assessment goes beyond grades or scores because it generates feedback to the students so that they can improve performance by assessing the product of the same learning activity that the students engage in (Jonassen, 2008, p. 218). For quick access to assessment results, more and more educators are using technology which is great because it will help the student improve their skills sooner.
David Jonassen (2008, p. 220) explains e-portfolios are used to put together a set of documents, pictures, video clips, art, or a collection of data that presents the accomplishments of someone. Further, it demonstrates the abilities or talents of a person and what he or she is capable of doing. I would describe a portfolio whether it is electronic or not a personal assessment of someone’s own work. The fact that the individual has to put it together, serves as a way to help praise and sometimes reward him or herself for doing such great work. While computer-based tests aid in the grading process for educators, it further allows the ability to track certain answers for future complex levels. Computer-based tests are not as accurate in measuring if the individual’s learning because it is a gathering data system, but it helps educators note the areas in which students need improvement.
If you try to remember your years in school, would your memories be of feelings, friendships, and fear or of academic knowledge (Woolfolk, 2010, p. 65)? Hence, an e-portfolio would definitely show your learning experiences as it is self-image of someone’s own work; it reflects the individual’s skills, strengths, or approaches to our society. Indeed, these characteristics are a result of the efforts teachers and students worked for.
References
Jonassen, D. (2008). Meaningful learning with technology (pp. 218, 220). Upper Saddle, NJ: Pearson.
Woolfolk, A. (2010). Educational psychology (pp. 65). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Richard Smith-I agree that E-portfolios would be nice keep sake for memory purposes and i think with the world becoming so digital that e-portfolios will become alot more common, with papers and pens becoming obsolete. Assessments are critical as you stated, not just for teachers sake but to understand where you are at in your studies as well.
ReplyDeleteI am not quite sure what I think about assessments using technology. I think that it could be a useful tool for some students but not for all. I think that some students will perform well on assessment tests where others will not, even though both students know the information that is being tested.
ReplyDeleteI have always struggled with tests/exams/quizzes in school since day 1 and, attending college, I have had to learn strategies to use to perform better on these tests. Now, written exams, I have no problem with. I actually perform better on written exams than scan sheet exams. My performance between assessment tests fluctuate with each course, too. It is not the same all across the board.
As teachers, I believe it is necessary for us to recognize our students weaknesses and adapt the lesson plan for that course to accomodate with the weaknesses of the student. Like the book says, you don't want to challenge the student to the point of absolute frustration, but you don't want to bore them with easy material, either. As teachers, we have to find the balance.
I agree that a lot of students find school boring, but that is where I think things like the e-portfolio help out a little. Not only does it help the teacher guage the students' knowledge and skills, the students would probably enjoy it lot more then sitting down every week to take a quiz. It would let them feel like they had some control and encourage them to participate more actively.
ReplyDeleteI agree that assessments are extremely important. Without them, we would not be able to know what level the students are at in their learning and comprehension.
ReplyDeleteI personally love the idea of the e-portfolio. As I stated in my blog, I wish this tool would have been available when I was in High School.
In taking tests in e-college and taking the fill in the blank questions and missing them because I either add or leave off an S, its rather frustrating. Tracking the information is easier for the teacher, i just don't think its always as accurate as we would like to think
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