Mid-South Instructional Technology
Conference 1999
Proposal #27

Title: Classroom Assessment Techniques Designed for Technology

Name: Mary B. Martin

Type of Session: Lecture/Presentation

Preferred track: Best Practices

Abstract: "Learning Research" techniques, developed to provide immediate classroom feedback, are usually ungraded. The most general collection of these assessment tools, written by Angelo and Cross in Classroom Assessment Techniques, can be refined for more direct use with technology. An overview will be given of the techniques and value of classroom assessment, followed by a presentation of techniques specifically aimed at assessing the student learning gained from calculator/computer activities.

Description:
Classroom assessment techniques are ungraded, quick feedback strategies which assess the learning from completed activities in a classroom. Aimed at college and high school students, the assessment techniques allow the instructor to quickly discover which concepts still confuse the students. Additionally, they can be used to increase students' participation and to increase their understanding and retention of material.

Classroom assessment techniques can yield information in a quick, usable fashion for instructors trying to decide whether or not the students "got it". They can also be used to develop students' learning strategies as well as help them to self-assess their understanding and their study practices. To be most successful, these strategies are non-graded, performed once or twice a week, and the students are always given a report of the results. Unless otherwise desired, the techniques take at most 5 minutes; in return, they can yield a net gain in class time by focusing subsequent discussion and improving student retention of knowledge.

The presentation will begin with a brief overview of the classroom assessment techniques as designed by Angelo and Cross in their Learning Assessment research. An emphasis will be given to those techniques which are versatile and therefore adaptable to most disciplines and most learning experiences. These techniques would be especially useful for assessing multi-media presentations and other technology-based forms of course delivery. This will be followed by a more extensive collection of assessment tools, developed by the presenter, which directly assess learning acquired by students through their use of technology. While the context will be on assessing activities involving the use of scientific calculators and graphing calculators, the techniques presented can be adapted to a variety of laboratory and computer experiences. The techniques presented will help instructors and students synthesize their experiential learning and enhance the students' understanding of the theoretical results of their learning. The second portion of the presentation will be of the most value to those persons using laboratory experiences and/or case studies in their classrooms.

Length: One hour

Audience: Faculty

Audience Level: All

On-site equipment requirements: Elmo (overhead projection both for opaque and transparent items) Projection of Power Point presentation

Contact Information:
Mary B. Martin
Department of Mathematical Sciences
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 34
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
615-904-8236
mmartin@mtsu.edu


Proposal Evaluation Form

1. Do you think this proposal is acceptable?

Definitely
Maybe
Definitely Not

Comments on Proposal Acceptability:

2. Do you think the topic is relevant to the theme of the conference?

Yes
No

Comments on Topic:

3. Do you think the track is appropriate?

Yes
No

Comments on Track:

4. Do you think the length is appropriate?

Yes
No

Comments on Length:

5. Do you think the audience and audience level are appropriate?

Yes
No

Comments on Audience/Audience Level:


Return to Proposals '99 List