Reflections+on+Technology+Facilitator+Standard+IV

Technology Facilitator Standard IV examined the topic of technology’s role in Assessment and Evaluation. In the field of education, assessment and evaluation can take on a wide variety of forms and purposes. We live in a society that is data-driven where the onus is to constantly improve upon the “what was”. In one book the author states that "Research has indicated that typical teachers spend between on-third and one half of their class time engaged in one or another type of assessment or learning evaluation activity." (Smith & Cummings, 2009 ,p.1) As a teacher it is important to evaluate both myself and my students. This helps to show me what I need to work on and the areas that need improvement. The same objectives hold true for my students. Unless I provide assessments materials to my students, it will be hard to gauge where my students stand in my class. In today’s environment there is a move from Paper Based Testing to Computer Based Testing) In the last two years, my district has given both paper based tests (//TAKS// & //Stanford 10//) and a computer based test (End of Course) assessment.

A move towards computer based tests can be important in a number of ways. As pointed out by the reading, data collection and analysis can be improved as the time to collect and mark exams is decreased. Data from computer based tests can be dissected faster and easier allowing for greater data manipulation. Storage will no longer be a problem as more and more schools will become “interested in establishing data warehouses integrating electronic information from disparate sources and storing it over longer periods of time.” (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 84)

I welcome the push towards computer based tests as I feel that the benefits that it offers will be worth the risks. Having had the opportunity of seeing computer based tests from the role as an administrator and as a test taker, I feel that computer based tests will allow educators an opportunity to see what areas need to be targeted more than others. However, unless we find a way to uniform the standards nationwide, the needs of education cannot be correctly assessed. Also the dependence on standardized tests must be decrease and teachers should be challenged to provided “higher-order thinking experiences, opportunities for authentic collaboration, and real-world connections” (Fingal, 2009, p. 9)

Fingal, D. (2009). Is it really all that testing, or is it you?. //Learning & Leading with Technology//, 37(1), p 9

Wyatt-Smith, C. & Cumming, J. (2009). Educational Assessment in the 21 Century: Connecting Theory and Practice. New York, NY: Springer Science+Business Media

Williamson, J & Redish, T. (2009). ISTE’s Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology Education