Jessica V.

Banks
EDU 225
January 11, 2015
Instructor: Larson

Part 1: Assessment Technology (150-250 words).

The online assessment link that will be used in this class is Socrative. The link is
http://www.socrative.com/, and room number is as follows; d266129c. Socrative will be used
by students in the classroom, and at home to improve on academic skills. Each week the lead
teacher will post guided lessons/quizzes that have been incorporated in the classroom throughout
the week in class. This way all lessons that have been implemented, can be re-enforced and
mastered. Students may also use the quizzes found on socrative as study material as well.
Socrative is an interactive online assessment tool teacher can differentiate to meet the academic
needs of their students. Teachers can also track their students progress when using socrative as
well. The space race which is featured on socrative is another fun way teachers can keep their
students engaged is by having them compete with their classmate as well. Parents can also visit
the website to view what progress their child has made each week as well.
Part 2: Blog Post
Introduction
This blog entry will be discussing how technology will be used to facilitate more
effective lessons, and assessing student progress in the classroom. There will be technology
assessment tools, as well as software that will be used in this class. These assessment tools along
with the software that will be used will assist the lead teacher with tracking student data and
build upon students skills. Through the use of formative, and summative assessments the lead
teacher will be able to deliver a more comprehensive lesson; this will promote student progress.
Technology to Facilitate Ongoing Efforts to Assess Student Learning

An assessment is an ongoing process that is geared to fulfilling educators desire to

understanding and improve student learning. The way to ensure student learning is improved,
and educators maintain a clear understanding of assessments is to set expectations, set
appropriate criteria, and high standards for learning quality. Once this is done a system is
devised for gathering, analyzing, and interpreting the data that has been collected; which can be a
difficult task. But this process is vital, because it helps determine how well a students academic
performance matches the educational expectations and standards that have been set. Technology
plays a big part facilitation of student learning, as well as assessments. Technology helps to
improve student learning, by helping them connect the dots (comprehend). Through the use of
technology students are able to comprehend better, thus technology has a positive effect on how
well students learn. Technology helps student learn by making learning fun, because they are
able to without feeling like they are being taught. Also the documentation of assessment results
are vital to the improvement of a students performance as well. Assessment results help
teachers identify a need, and how to find the approach to make an improvement. Technology
and Learning - EDUCAUSE Homepage | EDUCAUSE.edu;
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3005.pdf

(Renzulli Learning)
Renzulli Learning is a software, which helps teachers to academically profile their
students; through the use of a very detailed questionnaire. Renzulli Profiler records a student
personal interests, style of learning, and the way they expression themselves. This makes it

easier for teachers to learn the needs of their students, and effectively differentiate their lessons.
Renzulli also provide real-time assessment feedback on student progress, and for continued
academic growth this software can also be access at home as well. (100 words) (Describe how
teachers could use this specific software to assess student learning. Provide an example of how a
teacher would use it in your classroom. Reference sources through in-text citations when
appropriate.)
(Lexia Reading)
Lexia a software like Renulli also provides real-time assessment feedback on student
progress, and for continued academic growth this software can also be access at home as well.
But it is geared towards the improvement of students reading, and comprehension skills. On
Lexia student can establish a sense of accomplishment, as well as confidence with their reading;
as they move up to higher levels. Through the use of fun game like activities on phoenix skills,
word recognition, and so much more student learn without even knowing it. The vibrant colors,
shapes, and sound grab young childrens attention, and keeps them engaged.
(Compass Learning Odyssey)
Compass Learning takes assessment technology, and software to the next level. Although
Compass is much like Renzulli as well as Lexia, Compass Learning offers student much more.
Though personalized lessons, and differentiation students learn more much faster; which helps
students maintain academic success. Compass learning also provide implantation support for
teachers who use the website as well. Also compass learning odyssey offers skill building
lessons, and activities for grade levels in elementary, middle, as well as high school; for
continuous academic success. It also provides real-time assessment feedback on student
progress, and for continued academic growth this software can also be access at home as well.

(100 words) (Describe how teachers could use this specific software to assess student learning.
Provide an example of how a teacher would use it in your classroom. Reference sources through
in-text citations when appropriate.)

(Formative and Summative Assessments)

A Formative assessments is a wide variety of methods that teachers use to conduct inprocess evaluations of student comprehension, learning needs, and academic progress during a
lesson. A formative assessments helps teachers identify skills that students are struggling to
comprehend, as well as skills they are having difficulty getting. Formative assessments also aide
with learning standard students have not yet achieved, so that the teacher can make adjustments
to lessons as they come, along with teaching strategies, and added academic support. Through
the use of modern day technology, teachers can now document, and keep track of their students
progress with internet tools such as "Easy IEP". On the other hand a Summative Assessment, is
used to evaluate student learning progress and achievement at the conclusion of a specific
instructional period usually at the end of a project, unit, course, semester, program, or school
year. In other words, formative assessments are "for" learning, while summative assessments are
"of" learning.

Pros and Cons of using Technology to Facilitate Assessment) (200 words)

There are many pros of using technology to facilitate assessment, but one of the most
important one of all is accuracy. Through the use of technology teachers can document the full
extent of their students academic capabilities. Once data has been collected teachers can use
that information to identify their students weak points, and improve upon them. In this day and
age of technology, there are not many cons when it comes to using technology to facilitate

assessments. However there are many people who stand firm in their position to stick to more
traditional, and manual methods of facilitating lessons as well as conducting assessments. For
example, when teaching math some teachers believe math should be taught in manual fashion.
This way key factors of solving the math problem will not get lost in translation, and students
can fully understand the information being taught to them. Another pro of using technology to
facilitate is that technology helps to improve student learning, by helping them connect the dots
(comprehend). Through the use of technology students are able to comprehend better, thus
technology has a positive effect on how well students learn. Technology helps student learn by
making learning fun, because they are able to without feeling like they are being taught
(Should a teacher only use technology to assess student learning? Why or why not?)
Teacher should not only use technology to assess students, because the use of technology
has opened so many doors for student learning. For many students technology helps bridge the
gap between learning, and fully comprehending what they are being taught.
What is the importance of assessment technology in connection with the ISTE standards?
The importance of assessment technology in connection with the ISTE standards, is to
ensure that all criteria for ISTE standards are being met. This ensures that high standards for
learning quality are being maintained. Which will essentially ensure that teachers are
continuously improving upon student academic performance.
Concluding Paragraph for Software to Support Assessment
In conclusion software such as Renzulli Learning, Lexia Reading, along with Compass
Learning Odyssey are necessary to form a connection between facilitation, and comprehensive
learning. Assessment tools along with the software help to assist the lead teacher with tracking

student data, and build upon students skills. All of these components work together as key
elements to form an enriching learning environment.

References
Technology and Learning - EDUCAUSE Homepage | EDUCAUSE.edu;
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3005.pdf
http://www.socrative.com/; Socrative online assessment
https://compasslearning.com/about/ ; Compass Learning Odyssey
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