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Thoughts: The ISTE Standards helped me realize that I have been thinking about assessments the old way, meaning it is just to check if my students are understanding what I am teaching. However, these standards are pushing us to use technology to actually work with students with their learning. I never thought how powerful using technology could be when it comes to co-learning with students, learning new tools the same time students are and watching how they assess them.

Questions: I am curious to know Which formative assessment tools are most effective for students with IEPs or learning differences? Are there going to be certain tools we can use to see which is best or would it be trial and error? I also want to know how I can create a space for students to reflect and take ownership on something they don’t understand, sure I can make quizzes and polls, but how will this actually allow ownership? Another one, with so many different apps and platforms out there, what’s the best way to track progress without it getting overwhelming?

Epiphanies: When I realized assessments don’t have to be hard and they don’t have to be intimidating, it allowed me to think about how awesome it can be. Make them fun, collaborative, and creative! When doing this, students are more prone to try their best and not feel overwhelmed. There are so many tools that students can get instant feedback, and this is so wonderful because they can see in real time what the know and what they need to work on.

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T: After learning more about the ISTE Standards and the assessment resources, I realized that technology isn’t just a tool to deliver assessments for students. It’s also a tool to change them. The ISTE Standards push teachers to use technology for personalized learning and to provide timely feedback using digital tools. One thing I hadn’t fully considered before is the need to allow students to assess their own learning with digital tools.

Q: How can we use technology in our future classrooms in a way that helps all students show what they know, even if they learn or express themselves differently?

E: I used to view assessments mainly as final checkpoints, and that they were overwhelming, but now I see how strong formative assessments can be when supported by tech. It was eye-opening to learn that tracking learning doesn’t always need grades. Sometimes, just from quick quizzes or polls. It can be more useful in the classroom. It was also surprising to see just how many free and creative digital tools are out there that can make assessments engaging, personalized, and student-driven.

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Thoughts

After reading the ISTE educational technology standards, I realized that assessment is not just a way to check whether students have mastered the knowledge but also a way to increase students' motivation to learn. In the past, I only focused on midterm and final exams, but now I realize that the ISTE standards encourage the use of continuous and diverse assessments, such as digital work presentations, peer review, and real-time feedback tools (such as Kahoot, Padlet, and Flipgrid). These methods can actively engagestudents and have a deeper understanding of the learning content.

Questions

I wondered how teachers can ensure fairness and effectiveness when using these technology tools for assessment. For example, if students have different technical proficiency and different equipment conditions, will the assessment results be unfair? Also, how to set clear and consistent scoring standards for these non-traditional assessment methods (such as students' video presentations or project work)?

Epiphanies

I used to think that "assessment" was a unilateral teacher giving students grades, but after reading the ISTE standards, I was surprised to find that assessment can actually be an opportunity for students to reflect on themselves and learn from each other. For example, through digital tools, students can record their learning process, keep learning logs, or use videos and creative ways to demonstrate their understanding. This made me realize that assessment itself can also be a learning process, not just a measure of results.

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T- The ISTE standards for Learner and Leader push educators beyond just using technology as a tool but push for continual growth and leadership in tech integration. When related to assessments I hadn't considered the technology for real time formative assessments. Tools like Kahoot, Nearpod, Edpuzzle, and Google forms with auto feedback allow us as educators to gather data as students are learning, rather than waiting for summative assessments. Giving educators the ability to adjust instruction on the spot to make learning more responsive.

Q- How can I balance using tech tools for assessment while still meeting the developmental needs of younger students who are still learning how to use devices? Are there better ways to introduce tech assessments in early grades that won’t overwhelm them or me? I also wonder how we can ensure that our youngest learners are truly demonstrating their understanding, and not just clicking through or getting help from someone at home if they’re on a device.

E- I used to think of technology as an engagement tool but now seeing it as a way to deepen learning and refine teaching with continuous feedback. Also realizing that formative assessment isn't just about quizzes and exit tickets but can be interactive, ongoing, or even student led with technology.

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The ISTE standard 2.7.a says "Offer Alternative Assessments.  Educators provide alternative ways for students to demonstrate competency and reflect on their learning using technology."

[thought] I interpret this to reflect that there is more than one way to assess learning in the classroom. Even though a final exam may also have to happen, a teacher can design creative means of assessment by utilizing various technology tools.

[question] What are some ways that technology can assist with differentiated instruction and assessments that accommodate a variety of learner needs?

[epiphany] Hearing student responses to the hands-on learning and assessment opportunities reminded me that multiple modalities of assessment are essential to creating an inclusive learning environment.

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Thoughts:
One thing I noticed is that the ISTE Standards encourage teachers to use technology not just to collect assessment data but also to analyze it and adjust instruction right away. I hadn’t really thought about how much technology could streamline this process and make it easier to identify trends or gaps in learning. The emphasis on giving students timely, actionable feedback also stood out to me, because I know that’s something I can improve in my own practice.

Questions:
I’m wondering how often formative assessment should realistically happen without it feeling overwhelming for students or teachers. Also, what are some good ways to make sure technology-based assessments are accessible for all students, including those who might have limited tech skills or resources at home?

Epiphanies:
One big realization I had is that formative assessment doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming if I’m using the right tools. Learning about platforms like Google Forms, Quizizz, and Padlet showed me how assessment can be integrated naturally into lessons and even make learning more engaging. I also hadn’t considered how formative assessment can build student confidence by showing them their progress in real time.

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T: After reviewing the ISTE Standards, I realized how important it is to use technology not just for instruction but also to empower students to take ownership of their learning through assessment. I hadn’t really considered how digital tools can help students track their own progress, reflect on their learning, and even set goals. The standards seem to push teachers to make assessment more student-driven, rather than just teacher-directed, which shifts the way I think about designing assessments in my future classroom.

Q: How can we make sure all students benefit from digital assessment tools, especially those who may not have reliable internet or devices at home? Also, how can we balance the use of technology with traditional assessment strategies to make sure we’re meeting all learners' needs?

E: One big “aha” moment for me was realizing that assessment doesn’t have to be a final event, it can be ongoing, interactive, and even fun when we use the right tools. Using platforms like Flipgrid, Kahoot, or Seesaw can make assessment more engaging while giving teachers real-time data to adjust their teaching. I used to think of assessments as something you give at the end of a unit, but now I see how technology can make it part of the everyday learning experience.

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I feel they are wanting us to get rid of the old way of teaching and evaluating, this way we are able to better serve our students who come from diverse backgrounds. They are wanting us to provide more than just lecture, pencil and paper, they are encouraging us to integrate technology so that we can help personalize our students learning experiences. The InTASC standard 6 and in the ISTE standards 2.7 it talks about teachers using multiple methods of assessing students not just using the same assessment type every time. By doing this it keeps the students engaged, their progress is recorded and helps me as a teacher know how to guide each student so they can learn at their pace. One piece I hadn't thought of was the students reflecting on their learning. By doing that, I think it would make the student more aware of what they need to work on as well as the teacher and using the technology and programs we already have is an easy way to do that.

Questions: I wonder how these standards correlate with those standards needed for students with IEP's and learning disabilities? Is it enough to just "adjust" the assessment or are these standards a blanket for all learning?

Epiphanes: I was surprised at the top 3 formative assessments that the website talked about. I love the idea of having the students make an advertisement. They can use the tools from their iPads like their camera and record, they can use the information we are learning about put it in the advertisement and then show it to class. I actually can't wait to do that this year in my class.

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After reading and analyzing the ISTE standards, I realized that assessments are not only for testing students' knowledge, guiding the teacher during teaching and decision-making, but also teaching students to assess themselves. I learned that these new assessment methods are here to eliminate those days when children were "talking too much in class," or "not making the effort to learn." I know there are exceptional cases, but I'm talking about students who get bored with specific activities, those who need to move a little, or those who need to speak a little. I'm glad these new assessments guide teachers to offer every student the learning opportunities they deserve.

Questions:

Are there plans to modify or replace summative assessments in the future? (e.g. personalized, equitable, or inclusive)

Ephifanies:

I used to believe that teachers would just instruct the children without observing their learning styles or different needs. I also thought that teachers let children get on the computer as a way of having a break from them.:

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Thoughts - Now that we are learning more details about how technology can be used, the ISTE standards suggest a classroom where the teacher creates digital tools to assess children's learning. I could see teachers collaborating with one another on these assessments because they could be reused for certain topics.

Questions - Are teachers and students benefiting from the efficiency of these digital tools, or is the digital world having any negative effects on student learning?

Epiphanies - I am surprised that using digital tools to create learning experiences has been a lot smoother than I thought it would be.

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T: One thing in ISTE I did not consider is offering students alternative assignments. Some students could benefit from extra help and different ways of explaining a concept. Another action I had not considered was being open to learning with the students. Everyone is human and is capable of learning something new or new ways to go about teaching. Another important thing to remember is to support creativity and communication in the classroom.

Q: An important question I have is what is the best way to make sure learning about technology is understandable and accessible to everyone?

E: As I said before, learning with your students is a great skill to have. So many teachers think they are all knowing, and the students should keep their opinions about their teaching to themselves. Again, no one is perfect, and hearing from different perspectives is a fantastic way to make your teaching more digestible.

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T- After reviewing the ISTE standards I learned just how important technology can be in the classroom. I learned that technology helps students recognize the responsibilities and opportunities for contributing to their digital communities. These standards seem to help encourage teachers to establish productive relationships, to help improve instructional practice and learning outcomes.

Q-What are the negatives that come with using technology in the classroom?

How can we make sure technology is effective for all students?

E- I used to think that assessments were mainly things likes quizes, and test things that are normally bring pressure on students. After learning about the ISTE standards i've learned that formative assessments help describe the process that teachers and learners use to help student achievement. This has helped me learn that assessments can be fun and can be a great learning tool in the classroom.

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Thoughts: What actions do you think the ISTE Standards are suggesting you need to perform in the classroom that you had not considered before related to assessment?

2.7.a Offer Alternative Assessments

“Educators provide alternative ways for students to demonstrate competency and reflect on their learning using technology.”

I did not consider that technology should be used to create different ways for students to demonstrate their understanding of the content. There are many ways that students can demonstrate their understanding of concepts. For example, a student can demonstrate their understanding through a PowerPoint presentation or a video. Educators need to be ready to offer students a variety of ways to demonstrate content area knowledge.

Questions: What do you wonder about assessment and/or the ISTE Standards?

Is summative assessments really that important? It seems that educators and students benefit more from formative assessments. I guess my question is, are Summative assessments even needed.

Epiphanes: What revelations/surprises did you have about assessment?

I finally understood the difference between summative and formative assessments. I had always heard about these assessments before like in textbooks but I never really understood the difference. I guess it finally clicked! Formative assessments happen all throughout the semester and can look like a bunch of different assignments. Summative happen at the end of the semester or after units and cover all the material.

Reference:

ISTE Standards for Educators. (n.d.) ISTE. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-teachers

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Exploring ISTE Standards and Assessment Strategies in Education 📚

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In this video, I share my thoughts on the ISTE standards, particularly focusing on standard 2.7.A, which emphasizes offering alternative assessments to help students demonstrate their understanding. I realized that technology can play a significant role in creating diverse ways for students to showcase their knowledge beyond traditional methods like paper and pencil. I also express my curiosity about the importance of summative assessments compared to formative assessments, as I believe the latter may be more beneficial for both educators and students. I finally grasped the difference between these two types of assessments, which has been a point of confusion for me. I encourage viewers to reflect on their own understanding of assessment practices and consider how they can implement alternative assessments in their classrooms.

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Thoughts- The ISTE Standards are really encouraging teachers to create more personalized assessments. One action that stuck out to me was using digital tools to provide timely and targeted feedback. This can really help students understand their progress and where they need improvement. Another is designing assessments that allow students to demonstrate their learning through creating and sharing content. This would really require some critical thinking for the students, and I think it helps me when I can hear from other students like myself. These will change the traditional method to a more student-centered method.

Questions- I wonder how the ISTE Standards can be adapted to address the unique challenges in different educational contexts and secure they stay relevant and impactful to students.

Epiphanies- It surprised me how much I didn't realize that assessment can be more than just tests and grades. It is cool to see how technology can help make assessment a personalized process to support growth for students.

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Thoughts: After reviewing the ISTE Standards again, 2.7a stands out and encourages me. When I was in school, sometimes I felt I knew the information, but I was just not able to express it. Alternative assessments provide students with alternative ways to demonstrate their understanding of the subject and material. Formative assessments allow you to see where a student needs help or may not be understanding during the lesson, and allow the teacher to alter the teaching method to make sure the student understands. While the Summative assessment will show you the understanding at the end of the lesson.

Questions: I wonder how time management will factor into this? I can see where group assessments can help me in my teaching style, but if I have multiple students who are having trouble with different areas of the lesson, how can I use my time effectively to make sure I have time to teach all the students?

Epiphanies: When I thought of assessments, it made me think of a grade. I did not think of it as a way to help both the teacher in finding new ways to teach and students new ways to learn and make sure they understand. What has surprised me is the endless resources technology has to ensure your success.

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Thoughts-When reading the ISTE standards, I realized that technology can be used to increase student's engagement of learning. It is critical that students are engaged with the content, and having students that are interested in the assessment provided increases a student's likelihood of success. Really, the ISTE standards are suggesting that we use technology to enhance the learning of students rather than just replace a pen and paper test with a digital one.

Question: I am planning to teach severe/Profound special education, so how can we use these tools with students who have severe disabilities? What is going to be the best method for teaching these types of student to respond to technology? Is there going to be a learning curve teaching how to use the technology as well?

Epiphanies: I was really surprised to learn that technology can be used not just as a replacement for a pen and paper test, but as a way to enhance the assessment process. There are many different types of assessment, and technology can be used to help that process happen.

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Hello Everyone,

After looking over the ISTE Standards again, I found out that one thing I hadn't given much thought to before was using technology to give students the tools they need to take charge of their education through continuous formative evaluations like after lessons and things like that. By pushing me to use immediate feedback in the future, and to change their lessons accordingly, the standards change assessment from a tool for measuring learning to one that actively helps to improve it. I had also really only thought about a lot of assessments being on paper and not online, so it really helped me there as well. I now understand how useful it is to use platforms like polls, Kahoots, and Google Forms to keep track of students' growth over time. How to use digital assessments without overwhelming students. For me, a major realization was that assessments do not have to be limited to the conclusion of learning. Instead, it should be part of the learning process and incorporate student voice, self-evaluation, and reflection. All of which can be improved by technology in ways I hadn't thought about.

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Thoughts:

The ISTE standards are suggesting that I preform non traditional methods of teaching. Before browsing the ISTE standards for educators. I was unaware of the different ways to integrate technology. After reading through the standards 2.4 Collaborator I believe is a important standard to implement as it helps yourself as a educator, your colleagues and above all the students with shared resources and problem solving techniques.

Questions:

A question I have its in regards to the assessment process. The question is as follows, how do we learn to differentiate instruction for students who are struggling with advancing in technology?

Epiphanes:

A revelation I had about assessment is finding ways of learning "outside of the box" as a student I was accustomed just to traditional methods not involving technology but pencil and paper and hours of studying. I now know the importance of staying informed about technology for the support of our students and their development

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Thoughts - Some actions that I did not consider before was helping students positively and responsibly use and contribute technology and having to design activities with technology and or for technology. It has just been a while that I had been back into a school setting so I did not realize how much technology was actually involved in students education these days but it makes me excited that teachers are being required to speak and help students navigate the use of technology. I also love that since technology is a big part of today’s world, education is embracing it and using it for a better understanding of knowledge rather than see it as a negative.

Questions - Some questions would be, do assessments get updated frequently or are the same ones used constantly? I know that with technology there are many forms and ways to do assessments but if for some reason they are showing progress or not as advanced for students, does someone go in and try to make better assessments or is that the responsibility of a teacher and her team? Another question would be that what happens if all the standards aren’t met or if they cannot be met maybe depending on the availability of technology?

Epiphanies - It’s interesting to think that now if technology was not included in education then how would teachers be able to grade assignments, make tests, or even activities for students. I like taking inspiration from social media and that helps me feel more prepared or collaborate with other teachers from around the world.

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Thoughts:

When reading the ISTE standards, I did not think about the way that Summative assessments can not only assist in the students' teaching, but also support teachers in changes that may need to be made in the future instruction of said teacher. Assessments through technology are great in understanding more accurately what it is that students may need to focus on (class-wide or individualized student approaches), as well as how teachers are doing in their classroom instructions and what they may need to be focusing on in the material.

Questions:

1. What do you wonder about assessment and/or the ISTE Standards?

I wonder about how the future of assessment may look in classrooms, or after class, as I see assessment as something that humans have been cultivating for thousands of years, and many humans today may have had formative assessment play a role in getting us through major milestones from toddler age and on up.

Epiphanes:

1. What revelations/surprises did you have about assessment?

I did not know how important how the assessment process was in accordance to the learning process, as well as how close together they are in assisting a student to understand the lesson given. Traditional assessment can be overlooked as well today but both are equally important in understanding the equilibrium of instructional material and summative assessments of the instructional material afterwards.

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Thoughts:

The ISTE Standards highlight that technology can transform assessment, make the assessment more meaningful. As a future teacher. I had not fully considered using technology to track assessment data without the thought of assigning a grade. Using tools such as quizzes, online games, or even interactive student projects allows teachers to grasp their students understanding in real time. This encourages me to think more about ongoing and flexible assessments, rather than being just limited to a test on pen or paper. The ISTE Standards support data informed instruction, so this supports the value of identification on what learning patterns work best with different technological tools.

Questions:

One thing I wonder is how to balance the use of tech based assessments with making sure that students are still building strong writing and critical skills while not becoming too dependent on the digital tools handed to them.

Epiphanies:

One thing I have realized is that assessments do not always have to be tied to a grade to be effective. I have realized that they can be creative and low pressure, while also providing valuable insight into what they students are learning. Tools like student made ads, peer review, and digital media/games can help students understand in a way traditional testing might not.

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T: After looking through the ISTE educational technology standards, I've realized that it is a way to change assessments and help the students feel motivated to learn. For myself, I have only been focusing on summative assessments because those are the only ones I thought were super important. Reading these ISTE standards helped me realize that it is more beneficial for me and others to focus on all assessments to perform the best I can in the classroom. I also realize that the online assignments and activities are engaging and very beneficial to the learning process of students.

Q: How much technology in the class is too much? How do you balance work without technology and work with technology to make sure your students are getting a good amount of both?

E: I have only seen technology as a way to learn, not as a way to help teach. This assessment has made me realize that it can be used for both!

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Thoughts:

The ISTE standards emphasizes the role of technology. The standards made me realize that technology is a driving force for not only learning in the classroom but grading and assignments as well. The standards emphasize just how important the role of technology is in the classroom and for learners.

Questions:

In what ways can this standard affect the classroom? How can teachers find out which assessments are most beneficial in the classroom?

Epiphanies:

I realized how many different tools are available for use in the classroom. Technology allows for so many different ways to enhance learning, collaboration, and engagement among students.

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Thoughts: The ISTE standards say that educators should not only use technology for assessments, but also analyze the data, which can help understand and track the learners' needs for lessons. I always thought assessments were at the end of a lesson or unit to help the teacher see who understood the lesson or needs more help. However, I now realize that students should be more involved in the assessment phase. They can track their progress, set goals, and reflect on their learning. I did not prioritize student engagement in their learning journey, but now I will.

Questions: How can teachers make these type of assessment more meaningful and not just numbers by a kids name on a screen?

Epiphanies: What surprised me was how technology can make these types of assessments more flexible and student-driven. Throughout my educational journey, assessments were something teachers had control over. However, students need to take control of their journey. I also learned that assessment can occur at any time, not just at the end of a lesson.

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Thoughts: As a 1st -2nd grade teacher, formative assessments will be the primary way to measure my students' learning.   Summative assessments, such as Oklahoma Standardized Tests, don’t start until higher grades. Since teaching lower grades, I presume summative assessments will be part of benchmark testing, quarterly by subject. I’ll need to complete assessments weekly through observation, surveys, and checklists in small group settings and individually.   I’ll use interactive apps such as Kahoot! and Nearpod games and quizzes learning material to evaluate my students throughout a unit.

Questions: Managing the physical and digital data for each student is a skill set I’m lacking. I understand the importance of a data management system to help represent my students well without stressing me out.  I wonder if my school district will already have an assigned data management tool I’ll be required to use.

Epiphanes: Before this assignment, I’d thought of the app Kahoot as a great tool to create games for a fun and interactive way to engage my students' learning and comprehension.  However, I now recognize this is a great tool to provide student assessments and meet ISTE Standard 2.7. I can easily use Kahoot to create quizzes and even homework that gives students real-time results. This is ideal for digital homework; it can be designed to allow second chances, allowing my students to review and correct answers, and build comprehension.  This powerful digital assessment tool also helps me pinpoint areas of challenge and implement individual instruction where necessary, and be able to adjust my lessons to get better learning class results.