WHAT IS IT?
Digital assessment refers to the practice of having students demonstrate their understanding of objectives using technology and/or digital platforms and tools. Using digital technologies for formative assessment enables the teacher to hear from all students, rather than just the loudest, most eager ones. Digital tools can provide teachers with real-time results in terms of students’ understanding enabling them to modify/ adjust their lesson to better meet their students’ needs. Embedding digital technology makes assessment easier thanks to automation; it can ease the burden on staff while simultaneously improving student learning.
WHY IS IT RELEVANT?
Using educational technologies for students’ assessment saves time, offers immediate feedback, and is highly motivating for students. Using technology also enables teachers to better accommodate students of varying abilities and levels through built-in accessibility features (such as speech to text and text to speech).
HOW TO GET STARTED
Begin by diving into one or two different digital assessment platforms at a time and trying them out with your students- there is a lot out there and you don’t want to overwhelm yourself. The features available vary from tool to tool. Below are some examples and descriptions of digital assessment platforms available:
These digital quiz platforms are a great way to reinforce concepts and can be used as formative assessments.
Interactive learning games that engage students by immersing them in a live gaming environment. Students play the game while answering trivia/ review questions along the way.
Tools that transform lessons into active, collaborative learning experiences, by allowing the teacher to assess student understanding on the fly. Students are given a code to log into the lesson and participate live in polls, quizzes, and activities. Transforms lessons into interactive
Create online forms and surveys with multiple question types in minutes, send to anyone, and see results in real time.
Boost students’ collaboration and engagement with these digital platforms. Students can add content to the shared sites (including images, audio, and video files).
A safe space for student expression and creativity, where students can express their ideas asynchronously in short video, text, and audio messages.
Students can demonstrate their understanding using Slides and use Docs to organize their learning through learning journals.
Slideshow Resource
August Workshops_Assessment_2023.pptx
References
- https://elearningindustry.com/digital-assessment-tools-impact-teachers-work
- https://www.nwea.org/blog/2021/75-digital-tools-apps-teachers-use-to-support-classroom-formative-assessment/
- https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-using-authentic-digital-assessments-can-benefit-students
- https://www.mentimeter.com/blog/interactive-classrooms/best-assessment-tools
- https://www.commonsense.org/education/lists/top-tech-tools-for-formative-assessment
Guest post by Peer Tutor Tamara Jabboour and Ariane Faria dos Santos, October 2023.