If a teacher is to know whether a student is grasping a concept taught in class there must be some sort of assessment. The assessment can be anything from an activity to a project to a test and anything a teacher might create in between. Assessment activities seem to be a good way to ascertain a student’s skill set development and to determine whether a student can apply what they have learned to a set of problems. An assessment activity can help a teacher determine where a student is having issues with learning and to see what the student is understanding. With this knowledge, a teacher can review how material is being taught and pin point where the breakup in communication is happening. If a concept is being taught in multiple learning styles, oral, visual and tactile which method was being used when the student was able to master a part of the whole lesson? The answer to this question would allow the teacher to change from a lecture to perhaps a demonstration or some sort of a hands-on reinforcement activity.
An e-portfolio is a collection of documents in digital form that could include samples of work, art work, pictures, and other presentations that are in effect an expanded resume (Jonassen, Howland, Marra, & Crismond, page 220). There should be more to the portfolio than just individual work, it can include reflections and journals as well as work that lead a teacher to more insight to a student’s thinking process and grasp of concepts being taught (Jonassen, Howland, Marra, & Crismond, page 220). The work picked by the student to include in the portfolio also can help the teacher understand a student better (Jonassen, Howland, Marra, & Crismond, page 220). The use of an e-portfolio is more than a review piece created for a class or a project, it allows a teacher to see if a student can apply concepts learned to more real world applications if the teacher desires. (Lorenzo, & Ittelson, 10/2005, Page 1)
Computerized testing in its simplest form allows a student to answer test questions online or on a computer, giving relatively fast feedback in respect to grades. It is also easier to get data on what questions were answered correctly and which were not allowing a teacher to go back and reinforce information that was not grasped the first time (Jonassen, Howland, Marra, & Crismond, page 236). Another aspect of computer based testing is there is now available software that adapts to the person being tested. It allows testing to be appropriate for the gifted student as well as a slower learner (Jonassen, Howland, Marra, & Crismond, page 237). I would think that computer based tests would be as reliable and valid as any other test for the testing of basic knowledge of facts. I would think that using computer based tests would be more difficult to use for essay type tests, it might be very complicated to program a computer to take into consideration all the various permutations and ideas that might be expressed in a long answer question. That being said, if the questions are being written well there should be no difference between a computer based test and a test in a hard copy or using a scantron sheet for computer scoring.
I can easily see using an e-portfolio for projects in an art class. Instead of using an internet based portfolio, a student could use MS Publisher to create an HTML document that could then be burned to a CD-Rom, which would be safer for the student. (Lorenzo, & Ittelson, 7/2005, page 2) It would allow me, as a teacher, to understand how a student comes to a conclusion about a project. It would also allow me to see where a student might be hitting an artists block and help come up with the kind of open ended questions that might help a student get the creativity ball rolling again. Including a journal, sketches, research on what ever topic the work was about and photos of various steps of the creative project might be used as steps and included in a rubric. This is really a wonderful idea to see how a student is progressing. It is hard to grade art work, there is no right and wrong so more criteria is needed to accurately assess how a student is doing.
References:
Jonassen, D, Howland, J, Marra, R, & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful learning with technology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pesrson Merrill Prentice Hall.
Lorenzo, G, & Ittelson, J. (2005, July). An overview of e-portfolios. Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3001.pdf
Lorenzo, G, & Ittelson, J. (2005, October). Demonstrating and assessing student learning with e-portfolios. Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3003.pdf
Kris,
ReplyDeleteI think that it is difficult for computer based-testing to grade essays as well. It may capture spelling, grammar, and punctuation efficiently; however, it may not be as accurate capturing the supporting details to the thesis statement or the critical thinking analysis the writer has developed. The system is actually grading a draft not the final essay, and it may mislead to a low evaluation of the writer which is not fair.
I can see how you would perfectly fit the portfolio application for your students and yourself as an artist. It would be practical if presented electronically, but it would definitely be eye catching if presented in a hard copy because you can see the actual work of the artist and it is better appreciated and enjoyed.
Would love to see some of your art work!
My wife got her degree completely online through Commerce. The only time she had to go out to the campus, other than to receive her diploma, was to take a writing test. It was completely computerized. Obviously, it cannot grade how well you are able to tie various ideas together, or if you are able to offer strong support for your claims. It grades sentence structure, punctuation, subject and verb agreement, and other basics of grammar.
ReplyDeleteIt does have a place. It can do what it does very quickly and offer immediate feedback, allowing teachers to shape lessons and get students the tutoring they may need. But I doubt it will ever replace a teacher reading it word for word and being able to critique what the student is saying and not just how they are saying it.
I really like your idea about using E-portfolios in your art classroom. Kids could explain them selves better using it that lets say in the classroom in front of all of their peers. I wish I could have had the use of so much internet in my classes when I was in high school, seems like fun.
ReplyDeleteI think that you are right about e-portfolios, or a similar alternative, being helpful in an art class. I can definately see how having one place for students to compile their work and share it with others would have its advantages. I think just creating it would also be a wonderful outlet to express individual creativity for art students.
ReplyDelete