Digital Assessments for 21st Century Learners

As I am writing this blog, I am hearing students repeatedly blurting out words in Science-stating the term and then the meaning. They continuously do this like robots, shouting and screaming out words.

Haven’t the teacher noticed that there are people, like me, staying beside the school, that needs some quiet and relaxing moment to think? OR that there are also other classes that may be distracted.

Then it keeps me thinking. What is the purpose of the teacher doing that? Spending 10 to 15 minutes merely reciting a sentence or two. Is it a part of the objective of the teacher, to individually let the learner recite the term and meaning after 10 minutes of repetitively doing it? I’m not sure if it is a form of punishment or it is a teaching strategy. But whatever the purpose is…it is not and will not be effective in lifelong learning.

Repetition is the key to memorize words but it is not likely the key to learning. In this kind of strategy, how will you assess the students?

In my classroom, I have implemented various formative assessments. Non-traditional and reflective assessments, which the kids really enjoyed doing. Moreover, it is DIGITAL. We utilized ipads, iphones or laptops to do such assessments. Coz I believe that we should not let technology take advantage of us, rather, we should take advantage of technology. We should utilize the resources that we have right now.

Concept map discussion (Non-traditional Assessment)

Vocabulary Quiz (Non-traditional and Digital for of assessment)

I always notice students, and even kids outside the school, hardwired on their phones or ipads. So why not think of a way they can engage themselves to these gadgets while learning? Learning while playing and having fun. In this way, we can merge traditional to non-traditional assessments.

Here are some assessments that we can do as 21st Century Educators:

1. Schoology for essays- submissions in schoology can be annotated, comments and feedbacks about students work can be given in a timely manner, works can be resubmitted once edited
2. Schoology for mutiple-choice tests – can add images and put time-limits, comments and feedbacks from the students                                                                                                                                                                               
3. Seesaw as Digital Portfolio
4. Quizlet as Interactive flashcards, learning and test-taking tool – visit my blog about this here https://mitchellium.wordpress.com/2017/02/22/quizzing-with-quizlet/ (Quizzing with Quizlet)

Teachers should be innovative and creative in forming the students of this century. We should be developing them holistically in a more learning-friendly environment.