Module+5+Reflection

=Reflection 5=


 * How has technology impacted or changed your classroom assessment and evaluation? Has your data collection methodology changed with technology? If technology has not impacted your assessment and evaluation, what would you like to change? Discuss technology and your own productivity and professional practice. **

**Description: **

This week, we have been reviewing how our assessment and evaluation techniques have changed with the use of technology. The methods for data collection have also been impacted through the tools now available to schools, and ultimately it has helped teachers assess and evaluate themselves at a higher standard.

**Impact: **

Through the use of technology, my methods for gathering data, administering assessments and evaluating growth for students has significantly changed. Gone are the days when only pencil and paper tests helped to assess student knowledge and skills, a change that makes me much more effective as an instructional designer, helping me to better meet individual student needs. With the advent of computer programs that assess student needs, I have been pleased to see some great results with the program that I use in my school. In my classroom, we use the SUCCESSMAKER Reading Program by NCS Learn to help collect data on students and specific needs that they may have. The advantages to using this program have been exceptional for both monitoring student growth as well as directing the focus of instruction. Since it is a program that assesses the reading and math needs of students, and I am an intervention teacher for reading, I can use the data to drive individual plans for students. I like the fact that it highlights individuals, and that it can pinpoint specific areas of strengths and weaknesses because it helps me to plan activities that help to make more of an impact on their growth. Through the use of this program, I am able to better serve the needs of my learners (remedial readers), and can focus my instruction in a manner that not only suits their learning styles, but also is directed at their deficiencies. The students really like the program as well, so it isn’t painful to have them do the work, and they are able to monitor their progress throughout (which they do frequently). They become focused on the types of questions they are missing consistently (cause and effect, vocabulary, main idea, summary, etc.), and they begin to help direct their own focus as we move through lessons. It has helped to make them more self-directed learners as well, and their competitive nature has them striving to do better each time. They love to see their growth and so do I.

Technology has also helped to make data collection more accessible and easier to aggregate. In my building, I know they use IOWA testing to evaluate the students, and also classroom assessments. Through the use of computers, they have created forms that calculate data (Excel), and this helps them to compile critical information that influences instruction during the next school year, and also qualifies students to receive additional assistance if needed. In addition, they also aggregate data at the end of each nine week session using a standardized summative assessment for reading and math (in each classroom), and the teachers use this information to focus on the skills (with other curriculum goals) that need the most work the next nine weeks. They started doing this only this year, so I will be interested to see what type of impact this makes on the students, and hope that it is positive enough that they will continue to maintain this process.

**Intent: **

My intent for the future is to continue using programs like Successmaker that support the students, and highlight their individual needs. In this way, I can gather data and areas of need to help plan and focus my lessons more effectively. By doing so, I can facilitate even more learning for my students, and provide them with the type of supports and ideas that they will need for advancements and growth. Though my methods of data collection have somewhat changed with the advent of more technology being used, I feel that not only am I gathering more information, but I am gathering information that is more useful to me and the students. With it, I have seen a lot of changes in what I plan, how I plan, and also the gains that my students have made because of the advantages of having new ways to gather and aggregate information. Hopefully, the impact of technology will continue to bring more and more positive changes to not only students, but also to how well educators gather and use the data to drive great instructional practices and lessons.