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.

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.

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.

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.

[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.

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.

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.

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.

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.:

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.