Assessing Students
Educational technology has seen a rapid evolution in the 21st century. Due to this tremendous growth and acceptance in the classroom, several technological tools are now popular in assessing students. One of the most applied tools is GorFormative (Ploth, 2017). This technology enables the creation of discussion questions, reflection surveys, etc. As the students complete the assessments, teachers can view the live results, directly download in their computer, tablets, or smartphones, thereby making it possible for data analysis in various ways. Applying tools like GoFormative in students’ assessments is an efficient and effective way of focusing on the individual needs of students, the entire class, aiming at addressing the areas in which students require assistance.
Generally, using such technological tools in assessing students significantly impact students and the teacher. For example, utilizing GorFormative at the start of a period allows the teacher to obtain the results after a short while and utilize this critical feedback for assisting in the guidance of the day’s lesson while still making the necessary changes depending on the data (Ploth, 2017). Similarly, the instant results could then offer students valuable feedback, one-on-one, as well as assist them in improving their reflection and personal growth. Moreover, teachers could use the results for tracking student growth, noting patterns in particular students or classes, and working with the learners to determine their weaknesses and strengths. This kind of technology enables teachers to quickly undertake their evaluative work, reduce paperwork, and increase their time interacting with the learners utilizing the data. Typically, using technological tools, students can perform a variety of activities ranging from drawing, writing, listening to audios, and watching videos without the need for creating student accounts because they can be shared via shareable URLs or posted on the class website (ResourcEd, 2016). In short, using technological tools in assessing students increases the student-teacher interaction, helps in personalizing instructions and assisting learners in reaching their full potential within the classroom.