Running head: ASSESSMENT TECHNOLOGY

Assessment Technology:
Section 5: Technology to Support Assessment
Analy Huerta
Grand Canyon University: EDU-225
April 12, 2015

ASSESSMENT TECHNOLOGY

The software that I plan to utilize in the classroom shall be minimal, yet have the
potential to grasp the attention of the class throughout the lesson. I hope to accommodate each
and every type of learner through a series of hands-on, visual activities with appropriate use of
modeling from the instructor. I will strive to encourage my students to be independent in their
academics because I know that they withhold the potential to achieve the impossible, although
they may not realize it entirely. With the use of technology, students will be able to become more
knowledgeable in how to facilitate their own learning along with the guidance of the instructor as
well. In the article, Engage Students with iPods, the instructor shared the experience of having
the class use iPods for assessment: "The students can vote, and we can move in the order they
selected," Ruggieri stated. "While that might not seem like a big deal, students have told me over
and over again that they appreciate having a voice in the work schedule of their day
(educationworld.com, n.d.). As far as the assessments that will take place in the classroom, I
believe that it will solely depend on the material that was covered in class. For example, if
visuals are most definitely needed on the exam, then a computer-based assessment may be easier
for students to see as they are able to zoom in if need be.
The implementation of technology within elementary, secondary, and high school levels is
imperative now more than ever in terms of the instructors ability to fully comprehend the
manner in which students can be assessed. Technology has a way of facilitating student learning,
not to mention how their overall performance and achievement can be assessed. For example, the
ongoing effort of a student can be measured in the form of a game, an online test or quiz. Tools
such as Socrative allow teachers and students to collaborate in order to reach their academic
goals. This online tool presents the class with various forms of assessment and review. The Space

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Race application is among the least intimidating format for students, since they are able to
engage in friendly competition to attempt to win the race by answering a series of questions that
the instructor has put together. As for the instructor, Socrative organizes the quizzes created by
the teacher and has more than one option as to how the instructor would like to test their
students knowledge. As previously mentioned, Socrative is just one of many tools that can
assess student learning.
There are two main types of assessments: Formative and Summative assessments. The
difference among these two distinct ways of collecting how much a student comprehends the
lesson is that formative assessments are usually completed throughout the lesson and are often
presented in an informal manner. Examples of a formative assessment would be a brief check for
understanding such as having students display a "thumbs up" or a "thumbs down," which would
then allow the instructor to modify and adjust their instruction on the subject, fully based upon
the students' comprehension at that moment. On the other hand, Summative assessments tend to
measure a students' understanding on the overall lesson or unit and are usually given at the end
of the lesson. Examples of summative assessments include a weekly Spelling Test, a Math Test
or even an exam such as the AzMERIT, which can be taken in a computer-based or pencil-based
format. Technology can be utilized to facilitate both in which a formative assessment may be
presented in the form of an interactive game on an iPad or SMART Board. As for a
technological-based summative assessment, students are now given an exam that they take using
a computer, which tends to be of assistance as far as the accommodation of students who may
have a writing disability, or Dysgraphia, where holding a pencil may be difficult.
The pros and cons of technology are abundant, somewhat due to the clash of veteran and
prospective instructor opinions. Pros of utilizing technology include but are not limited to

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engaging a student in the lessons that are provided, students are able to take in the information
given at their own pace, and strengthen student readiness for the future. According to The
National Math + Science Initiative, When technology is integrated into school lessons, learners
are more likely to be interested in, focused on, and excited about the subjects they are studying.
Subjects that might be monotonous for some like math and science can be much more
engaging with virtual lessons, tutoring, and the streaming of educational videos (Huneycutt,
2013). Technology in the future is inevitable, however it is up to the instructor to teach students
to utilize this wisely, as it is the teacher that shall pave the way for the students success in their
academic future.
There is not one classroom in todays world that does not benefit fully from technology.
Perhaps some teachers do not rely on solely technological resources, yet there are others that use
only that. It is clear that technology can be of use, however, too much of a good thing can
certainly lean towards a world of disaster in some cases. A teacher should not only use
technology to assess student learning. According to USNews.com, digital learning starts with
teachers, whose performance is enhanced by technologynot the other way around
(McMullen, 2012). Technology to assess student learning can be great, considering that it is
quick and convenient much of the time. On the other hand, it is important that prospective
instructors learn to mix it up in the classroom, to avoid having students becoming bored and
unfocused, or even having students become too comfortable with the use of technology because
at the end of the day, they are going to have to practice writing with the traditional use of a paper
and pencil, etc.
The importance of assessment technology in regards to the ISTE standards is that these
standards are put into place so that students are essentially developing their skills when using

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technology and putting those skills forth into creative and productive uses that will enable them
to become successful across all positions within their future career choice. The standards that are
implemented in schools today emphasize the focus on student readiness and success in their
career, so it can be understandable when these new standards appear to have high expectations
for students. The ISTE Standards include: 1. Creativity and Innovation, 2. Communication and
Collaboration, 3. Research and Information Fluency, 4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and
Decision Making, 5. Digital Citizenship, and 6. Technology Operations and Concepts (ISTE.org,
n.d.). All these components make up the recipe for student achievement.

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References
Engage Students with iPods. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2015, from
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech254.shtml
ISTE Standards for Students. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2015, from
https://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf
Huneycutt, T. (2013, October 8). Technology in the Classroom: The Benefits of Blended
Learning. Retrieved April 11, 2015, from
http://www.nms.org/Blog/TabId/58/PostId/188/technology-in-the-classroom-the-benefits-ofb
McMullen, L. (2012, January 25). 3 Tips on Integrating Technology in the Classroom. Retrieved
April 11, 2015, from http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-schoolnotes/2012/01/25/3-tips-on-integrating-technology-in-the-classroom?int=96e908