Technology & Assessment

As teachers, we are constantly looking for new ways to assess students in an organized, effective and equitable manner.  Sometimes, finding or choosing appropriate assessment methods can be the hardest part.  “Teacher observations” or “Anecdotal notes” won’t always be the solution! As 21st century teachers, there are many online tools and resources that can be used for formative assessment. Please feel free to explore these three effective resources to help you with your assessment practices:

Tool: Sesame HQ

What is it: Web-based application, can be accessed on computer, tablet, or phone

How can I use it: Sesame HQ can be used to create student portfolios to organize student work, and to create student assessment data such as anecdotal notes, checklists, and rubrics. Recent updates to Sesame SNAP allow you to assess student directly on the app!

Check it out here: www.sesamehq.com

Tool: Edmodo

What is it: An online platform educational platform to facilitate learning

How can I use it: As a teacher, you can create your own “private group” to use as a platform for discussions. Within this secure location, students can post answers, or share thoughts to engage in discussion with other students. As a teacher, you can monitor their online interactions. Edmodo can be used for formative assessment, through the posting of “exit cards” or key questions. Students can also respond to other students’ posts, to demonstrate their critical thinking.

Check it out here: www.edmodo.com

Tool: Kahoot!

What is it: A website created for a game-based approach to blended learning. On Kahoot you can create quizzes, discussions, and surveys.

How can I use it: As a teacher, you can create quizzes on Kahoot for students to access through school devices, or their own device. Students answer questions displayed at the front of the classroom using their own device. Points are accumulated for speed, which adds an element of excitement to the quiz. Students’ individual results can be downloaded after the quiz. This can be used for formative assessment purposes.

Check it out here: www.getkahoot.com

Goodluck!
Miss Vessio

The Brock Tech Showcase

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of presenting a workshop at the Brock Tech Showcase. The topic of my workshop was Sesame HQ.  I had briefly mentioned Sesame in one of my earlier blog posts, but after having used it in the classroom, I had to share my experience with others.

Sesame is a new Canadian application designed specifically for educators, and is completely free for teachers. The main purpose of Sesame is to give teachers an easy and effective way to create unit and lesson plans, and organize student assessment data. 

With Sesame, all of your data is stored online or "in the cloud", and is accessible via computer, tablet, and smart phone. Sesame allows you to create formative and summative assessments such as anecdotal notes, rubrics, checklists and rating scales, or photographs of student work.

From the planning perspective, my favourite features of Sesame is the embedded curriculum expectations. The creators of Sesame have already input the Ontario Curriculum into Sesame, making it easy to insert curriculum expectations into all forms of assessment!

From the perspective of sharing student data, my favourite feature of Sesame is the authentic student portfolios that are created as you post more data onto Sesame. Each student has their own profile, where you can post their work, or anecdotal notes.  Eventually, you can share these portfolios with the students, the student's parents/guardians, or simply keep them for your own records. 

Sesame has both an application called SNAP, or a web-based version of the application which can be accessed here:  https://sesamehq.com/dashboard

I highly encourage you to experience Sesame first-hand, and wish you the best of luck! 

How do you see yourself using Sesame? 

For updates on teaching with technology follow the Brock Tech Showcase:  @BrockTechPD 
For updates from Amrina, my Brock Tech Showcase co-presenter: @MissVisram 

Benefits & Challenges of Using Technology to Support Learning

As a beginning teacher, I constantly find myself pondering on the types of practices that I would like to make use of in my own classroom, and whether or not these practices will in fact improve student learning. As a technology advocate, I cannot avoid the reoccurring question: Does technology support or hinder learning? By looking at the benefits and challenges of using technology to support learning, we can better understand, and determine our own stance on technology in the classroom.

It is true that using technology in the classroom does not come without challenges. One of the most discussed challenges of technology, like many other things in this world, is the cost. It has often been argued that instead of investing money in technology, the funds should be allocated towards increased teacher training, to make better teachers, instead of relying on technology. Another argument has been that there has been "no statistical change in standardized test scores". However, relying on this notion as the only factor to measure the impact of technology in the classroom would be unfair. Technology has provided opportunities for students to be engaged in their own life spaces, and experience enjoyable and relevant tasks related to the 21st century workplace.  It is true that technology is constantly changing and evolving.  As teachers, we hold the same responsibility. 

As teachers, we must be willing to change our practices and evolve in a way that best supports student learning and engagement.  As educational technology leaders, we must support other teachers, so that they too feel confident to promote an environment of educational technology! 

In the end, one of the most important tools for classroom success is the teacher. More specifically, a knowledgeable teacher who is prepared, willing to adapt, and open to the idea of making mistakes. The reality is that there are numerous benefits and challenges of using technology to support learning. As current and future educational technology leaders, we face the challenge of advocating for advancements that will not always be supported by all. As educators, it is our duty to foster the best environment for learning, growth, and a sense of engagement and belonging in today's society. Technology will not do that on its own, but it can sure help us out.

Although technology does come with its challenges, the benefits make it all worthwhile.

Three Traits of Teacher Leaders

What makes a teacher leader?

1. Teacher leaders are always thinking about their roles and responsibilities beyond the walls of their classroom. They feel an increased sense of responsibility in regards to what is happening in other classrooms. 

2. Teacher leaders are adaptable, and are always open to change and improvement. They are never "comfortable" with a lesson, and are always thinking about how they can improve student learning. They are continuously striving to improve their current practices.

3. Teacher leaders understand the power of student inquiry, active learning strategies, group work and long-term projects. They focus on the big picture and key ideas, rather than only looking at day to day goals.  

What other traits do think make a true teacher leader?