Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
on gathering data on cohorts, to data that traces the achievements of individuals
from a range of multimodal perspectives. Educators choosing measurement tools
should look for tools which assess the whole child, including their social develop-
ment-forexample,learners'abilitytobecollaborativeandcooperative,notjust
those areas that yield quantitative data. Assessment e-tools should credit what the
learners are capable of doing rather than forcing them to provide evidence of learn-
ing in formats which are not appropriate for the needs and interests of the learners.
E-portfolios were seen to have significant potential, particularly as their design
improves.Therewasagrowingpreferenceamongsttheteachersfordiagnostic/
analytical tools rather than software that only permits the presentation and manipu-
lation of cohort data. This trend to personalization might be reinforced if technology
developers liaised more with learners, teachers and parents about what they want
from education, as schools and colleges are likely otherwise to focus assessment on
demands of existing external assessment requirements.
Further reinforcement of the trend towards personalization could be achieved
by backing up parents' meetings with online systems for two-way communication
with parents. As well as providing a means of presenting data, these systems, with
learner access, should be a means by which the learners are able to demonstrate their
capabilities. In this context assessment tools chosen for any learning platform should
include e-portfolios and multimodal forms of assessment which go beyond assessing
formal skills and knowledge. Online assessment could be available when the pupils
are ready. Recording their achievements in an e-portfolio might include the use of
automated tools that generate automatic emails to pupils who have not completed
targets by deadlines, copied to tutors, parents and so on. Formative assessment tools
that respond to learner activity and take account of learner voices are also important.
Digitizing a paper-based system like Assessment of Pupil Progress (APP) might be
worth considering.
Technology tools for the future, which support the curriculum with respect to
assessment, need to take account of what is known to be effective
Effective assessment systems using technology should:
• besecure
• beaccurate
• bereliable
• beportable
• beaffordable
• beaccessible
• becross-platform
• beinteroperable
• beusableacrossmultiplecontexts(home,school/college,otherareasand
international)
• takeaccountofthelearner'svoice
• allowforlifelonglearningachievements
Search WWH ::
Custom Search