Test Measures Performance

Tests are given in all areas of life. When you fall down and hurt yourself, tests are given at the hospital to check for bad sprains or broken limbs they are necessary to make sure that your body is functioning properly. Without test, the doctor can't give you a proper diagnosis or clean bill of health. When you learn to drive at sixteen, you are given a road test to find out if you are skilled enough to obtain a driver's license in your state. Your written and road tests are assessed by a qualified person for skill and competency.


Nowadays, students are assessed on a regular basics in school to find out areas of deficiency and achievement. Students are tested in all areas of the curriculum. They are given pre-test to assess abilities and placement. Then, the teacher drives her instructions towards the data to build on areas that need improvement. Next the students are given post test to find out the results of the data driven instruction and strategies used.


According to the website at http://vudat.msu.edu/assess examples of objective/assessments alignments is to demonstrate critical thinking skills and the assessment is a problem analysis.
The objective is to test vocabulary knowledge and the assessment is multiple choice test.
The objective is to assess writing skills and the assessment is to write a composition.


Assessments gives the teacher a clear picture of where the students' achievement gap exist.



There are many kinds of assessments that can be used, such as open ended questions and short answer questions that are measured in math extended response questioning. They are also scored by rubrics. Other kind of test includes, oral report, which can be summative or formative. Exhibition assessments are great to use because it engages students in active learning. Scoring for these types of assessments are done using a scoring rubric as well. When I first started using rubrics to measure achievement, I had a difficult time getting use to them. Now, I would recommend using a rubric to any educator.


The video below has many interesting facts about assessment that I found to be helpful in determining that we need to assess children primarily to give feedback because assessing is just another teaching strategy and it must be included in our planning.

Technology-Infused Classroom

As technology continues to grow in our educational society there is a growing need for all learners to be provided with the tools that would allow them to become life long learners. In order for me to adequately help the students to reach a high academic level of achievement, I must make sure that my classes are taught with all forms of technology. Technology usage would be specific and goal oriented. The room would be filled with resources such as books, maps, videotapes, technology and students can use them as needed to assist with goals. The grading criteria will be given so each child knows what is expected, along with activities that promotes critical thinking and open ended problem solving task. Basically, these kinds of activities would allow the learner to actively engage in collaboration, creativity, production and research. Also, the activities would be meaningful and totally engaging for all students. Projects are pertinent and questions are essential as they investigate from their own curiosity. As the facilitator in this environment, I would structure the activities so that all the students are not necessary working on the same activity at the same time.
In an article written by an article written by Harry Grover Tuttle, June l5, 2006 cited at
http://www.techlearning.com/article/13948 has many helpful examples of creating a technology infused classroom.

Another great example of a program that supports the principles of a technology infused environment is the Kent School District website: http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/KSD/it/inst_tech/TechClassroom/tech_classroom_index.html This website offers a variety of resources for teachers to use in their classrooms. It is also complete with examples of Smart Board lessons and online resources to use for research.

Last, watch this video to see where you are in this digital age of technology. The video is titled Brave New World

http://www.technologyintegrationineducation.com/videos/1024336

Creating a

Visual Literacy

Visual Literacy is a our connection to understanding what we hear. When foreigners travel to unknown land sometimes they can only identify restrooms, restaurants, police stations etc. by the signs and symbols or gestures. Analyzing and interpreting pictures can convey many meaningful messages in the classroom . The use of pictures help the students to connect to the lessons by prompting critical thinking. Visual images helps to support thoughts by means of producing images in the mind. Sometimes, colors also can help change a child's mood. For example on a cold and wet day, a nice bright yellow sun can help change the feeling of a dreary day. In my class, I use graphic organizers as a visual to help organize thoughts and patterns and ideas. Also, I would use hypertext and hypermedia as a problem solving and research strategy. . This is a great way to discovery learning and solve real problems. Power point presentations has been a great favorite of young children especially with animations and talking videos. Also, the students enjoy when the produce their own videos as a cooperative grouping project. Internet usage is now a necessity for me in my classroom because it supports my student's learning more effectively, especially with the usage visual support on the Internet. The children also look forward to the viewing and finding visuals to support the lessons too. This a great motivator and also it keep the students asking questions and seeking information.

The importance of using a variety of instructional strategies and the value they add to the education of students in the 21st Century.

There are many kinds of learners in our society. It is best practice to use a variety of methods when teaching students. In order to adequately prepare our students in the 21st century we must support their needs by implying various learning styles. Learner styles such as the auditory, visual and kinesthetic learning. The computer supports each one of the learners along with the perspectives of behaviorist, cognitive, constructivist, and social psychological aspects of learning. Technology enables the learners to practice and focus effectively. Technology also fosters creativity, problem solving, production, communication, critical thinking and content learning.