Journal Post 11

Focus Question: How can teachers use student participation systems as effective assessment methods?

                                                  Photo credit to: Universidad de Navarra

            Teachers can use student participation as effective assessment methods in several ways. For those who do not know what student participation systems are, another way to describe them is as classroom response systems, or personal response systems. These systems are handheld wireless tools that ease interactive learning options for both teachers and students. They are often referred to as clickers, normally the size of a small remote control, they have multiple buttons and can be used by the students to answer questions in the form of multiple choice, true or false, yes or no, numeric answer, and short answer. There are many reasons why student participation systems are becoming more and more popular. To begin with, they encourage active learning in classrooms. While teachers lead discussions, they can stop and post discussion question on the boards, and students can actively participate in the lesson by answering these questions. Another reason clickers are so successful in a classroom environment is that it facilitates student involvement. Students who may not normally participate in class because they are shy or embarrassed of giving the wrong answer. Teachers who use these assessment methods also get immediate feedback of their student’s knowledge on the particulate subject, due to the answers given. I believe this is a great tool for teachers to use. In my opinion the key to academic success lies in student engagement. Students are likely to pay attention during lessons and discussion if they know they are going to have to answer questions during this time. Students are also likely to participate without shying away. This allows the teacher to gain knowledge on which students understand the lesson, and which students do not.

Tech Tools: EduTools

                                                 Photo credit to: SCASL AASL Affiliate

            EduTools is a website sponsored by the Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications. This website is used to provide reviews, consultations, and comparisons for teachers and other educators interested in using e-learning tools. The website also provides reviews of online college, advanced placement, and high school courses. Some e-portfolios that have been evaluated on EduTools include ANGEL e-portfolio, BB e-portfolio, e-folio, LiveText, and TaskStream. EduTools is a great site especially for teachers, it is very helpful for teachers to have a reliable site where they can go to get an evaluation of a site or tool they are looking into making a part of their lessons and planning.

Summary: Chapter 11

                                                          Photo credit to: timlewisnm
          This chapter focuses on engaging teachers and students in learning and self-reflection. The chapter first introduces ways in which teachers can evaluate students. Some of these ways include norm-referenced tests, criterion-referenced tests, standardized-based assessments, and performance-based assessments. However, students are not the only ones being evaluated, teachers are also evaluated. Another interesting topic that was discussed in this chapter was the use of digital portfolios for teacher. Teachers can create a digital portfolio of a collection of their work, as well as what the individual teacher know and is able to teach in a classroom. Online survey tools were also discussed in the chapter. These tools are often used to involve students in the decision of how material will be taught in the classroom. Lastlty, student participation systems were discussed. This was my favorite part of the chapter. I have used these wireless tools as a student in a classroom before, and I saw how it engaged students including myself, it encouraged us to actively participate in the classroom.