Journal Eight: Assessment Made Easy

Zucker, A. (2009). Assessment made easy. Leading and Learning with Technology, 36(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3620082009/JuneJulyNo8/L_L_June_July_2009.htm

The article, “Assessment Made Easy”, discusses the success a charter school in Denver has had with their one-to-one laptop program. The school received a $1 million donation from Hewlett-Packard and used the funds to give every student in the school a laptop. The school requires at least 40% of its students come from low income households. The school boasts having one of the highest test scores and all of its gradating seniors were accepted into a four year college. The average public school in Denver has a graduation rate of 52%.

One of the reasons the laptop programs has seen such favorable results is the instant assessment and feedback. Students find out almost instantly how they did on exams and quizzes. Getting feed back is a key component to learning and students seem enthusiastic about quick response.

Another advantage to the laptop program is the ability of teachers to tailor the instruction to the student’s individual needs, based on the feed back they get from the laptops. If the teacher feels part of the previous weeks lesson wasn’t understood by a portion of the class, the teacher can elect to re-teach part of the class. The computers also make it easy for the schools to tie the testing and curriculum to the state standards. Special software is installed on all the lap tops that allow interim assessments.

How can the laptops be used in classes aren’t suitable to multiple choice tests?

The laptops are used very effectively in language arts classes. The teacher is able to have students submit written assignments and then display one students writing on board. The class can watch the teacher critique the students writing and edit the paper. Also, it allows the students to write without worrying about poor penmanship.

Do the laptops work for Math and Science as well?

Math and science classes also utilize the laptops and tests are graded almost as quickly. The computer allows for the multiple choice question to be separated out and graded immediately. The constructed responses can be graded by the teacher more efficiently because the teacher can focus on just that aspect of the test.