Module 6

Innovative Technologies for

Assessment Tasks in Teaching
and Learning
By: Prof. Augustus Venancio B. Ramos

Intended Learning Outcomes

After finishing this module, the students should have

1. explained the role of ICT in assessment in learning;

2. designed and created electronic assessment portfolio;
3. explored various digital online and offline assessment alternatives available;
4. described the current trends in technology-based assessment practices in schools; and
5. selected appropriate assessment tools.

Introduction
Assessment. learning, and teaching are closely connected and interwoven because each provides
information that can determine effective instruction. In the process of conceptualizing a plan on how to
teach, as the learning outcomes are put in place. the next step to consider is how these are to be
evaluated. This is an important part of instruction because data gathered in this phase of instruction will
inform the teacher whether the students have actually learned or that the teacher has to reconsider a
better approach in teaching.

Although the conventional ways of assessment still work, the role that ICT plays in the present teaching
and learning context has definitely changed the course of direction that a teacher can pursue. The use of
technology plays a vital role in assisting teachers how to assess students’ leaning. It involves digital
devices or online applications that can be used -in constructing, delivering and reporting learners’
performance.

This Unit, which is composed of two lessons, presents important concepts on assessment in learning
while integrating technology tools that can appropriately evaluate students’ learning. Varied types of
online assessment tools are discussed. The ePortfolio assessment is also presented as an alternative way
that can provide learners the chance to reflect how they learn. Online examination software and
applications designed to assess and gather data afford the teacher ample chance to give immediate
feedback on student learning. The criteria for choosing the appropriate assessment tool are also
included.
ICT and Assessment of Learning
Assessment is very important in student learning. There are many approaches to assessment in learning
with an emphasis on the process of learning along with the product of learning. The ultimate measure of
student’s competence is performance, Development in Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) has thrown open numerous possibilities for assessing student learning and providing immediate
feedback.

Assessment is the process of identifying, gathering and interpreting information about students’
learning. To understand better the different related terms on assessment especially formative and
summative assessment, please watch this video on YouTube https://youtu.be/u0nSW3W4MW0

Types of Assessment
1. Formative assessment
2. Summative assessment
3. Diagnostic assessment
4. Authentic assessment

Formative assessment provides feedback and information during the instructional process, while
learning is taking place, and while learning is occurring. It is used to keep track of students’ learning
progress. It is not used for grading purposes.

Summative assessment takes place after the learning has been completed and provides information and
feedback that sums up the teaching and learning process. It is used for grading purposes so it must be
announced ahead to give students the opportunity to prepare.

Diagnostic assessment can help in identifying students’ current knowledge of the subject, their skill sets
and capabilities, and to clarify misconceptions before teaching takes place. Knowing students’ strengths
and weaknesses can help you better plan what to teach and how to teach it.

Authentic assessment describes the multiple forms of assessment that reflect student learning,
achievement, motivation, and attitudes on instructionally relevant and realistic classroom activities.

The Role of ICT in Assessment in Learning

There are new technologies created to provide students with higher level thinking skills, particularly the
aspects of creative thinking, and the opportunity to teach and assess those skills. The use of ICT in
assessment is very helpful to teachers because students’ information and results of examination can be
recorded and stored and can easily be retrieved. With the use of ICT, the teachers can right away give
feedback to students on the results of assessment. Feedback from the computer during the use of test
materials improves student performance in later use of the same test material.

In educational assessment, the use of technology as an innovation and support for teaching ang learning
(Sindhu, 2013), is essential to improve instruction and increase performance. With an effective
classroom assessment system in place, a valid demonstration of student learning and progress
connected to classroom instruction and experience can be confirmed.

Tests play a vital role in traditional learning as well as e-learning and this helps the teachers and the
learners in measuring learning. There are many freeware where the teachers can create quizzes and
evaluate learning electronically. Online examination systems seek to efficiently evaluate the test takers
thoroughly through a fully automated system that not only saves time but also gives fast results. It is
done in most cases through a Web- Based Online Examination Software. This online examination will
also eliminate the need for monitoring while the exam is being taken.

One of the advantages of using a web-based exam software or an online examination system is that it
gives a high level of transparency as opposed to the traditional method or remote method. It is almost
impossible to compromise exam questions and evaluations because they cannot also be influenced.
Most online exams generate their results instantly and it is often possible for the exam taker to get
information on his results immediately. Some of the major advantages of online examination are: (1)
accessibility and flexibility; (2) time management; (3) save cost; and (4) statistical analysis.

Security and confidentiality should also be considered. Security needs to be given top priority for any
website that you will add information to. Some schools utilized software for security and privacy of
examinations.

Current Trends in Assessment in Learning

Traditional assessment like objective test such as multiple choice, matching type, true-or-false and other
paper-and-pencil test received criticism by some experts in assessment. the 21 st century assessment
includes: (1) utilizing multiple measures of assessment, (2) increasing the use of technology, (3) focusing
on the growth and development of the learner, and (4) differentiating the roles and responsibilities of
the teachers, administrators and other stakeholders. In the 21st century, educators and students can no
longer afford this disconnect. To help students become college and career-ready, we need to teach
them how to apply what they are learning in school to the practical and intellectual tasks in their
everyday lives (Wolpert-Gawron, 2010).

The concept of ‘classroom’ has been shifting in recent years with dedication to purposefully designed
learning spaces and seamless integrations of technologies (Williams, 2017). In the 21st century, we are
facing a global economy where information travels at the speed of light and knowledge of how to
harness the sift through that information has become vital to our personal and national well-being. As
an educator, we know that our students must graduate ready to function in this expanded world.

Educational technology is used to increase the efficiency of education in teaching, learning and
assessment. Computers and related technology are viewed as the future of teaching and learning and
also as a powerful technological machine to promote development of learning. Computers are able to
create a more attractive and effective learning environment (Keser & Ozcan, 2011).

Electronic Portfolio
An electronic portfolio which is also known as ePortfolio, digital portfolio, or online portfolio
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_portfolio) is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and
managed by a user, usually on the web (Zimmerman, 2012). ePortfolio includes input text, electronic
files, images, multimedia, blog entries, and hyperlinks. ePortfolios are both demonstrations of the user’s
abilities and platform for self-expression.

Types of ePortfolios
1. Ideal portfolio – It contains all work of students. It is not given to provide students a grade.
2. Showcase/Professional ePortfolios – These ePortfolios are primarily a way to demonstrate
(showcase) the highlights of a student’s academic career.
3. Documentation portfolio – It involves a collection of work over time showing growth and
improvement reflecting students’ learning of identified outcomes.
4. Learning ePortfolios – These portfolios are typically created by a student as part of a learning
activity as a way to demonstrate learning and the learning process. These portfolios are often shared
with other students to elicit peer feedback. Learning portfolios support the idea of formative
feedback as an essential part of the learning process.
5. Evaluation/Assessment ePortfolios – The teacher may utilize this for both formative and summative
assessments feedback.

Mobile Apps for Assessment

Nowadays, countless apps can be seen in the internet that offer a variety of uses. As technologies are
generally meant to make human work easier and faster, smartphone and computer apps are developed
to make assessment tasks easier and more efficient. The smartphone grading app ZipGrade is very
popular in the university. Many teachers use the app to easily score student test papers. This is done
utilizing a pre-designed, customizable answer sheet. After the test each answer sheet is scanned using
the app and after just a couple of seconds the score is obtained accurately. If you remember, you took
an entrance exam before you were admitted to the university. ZipGrade is used in that test for fast and
accurate scoring, item analysis, and record-keeping.

There are a lot of amazing grading apps that help teachers save time doing their job. Please take time to
visit https://www.bookwidgets.com/blog/2016/11/10-amazing-grading-apps-that-help-teachers-save-
time and learn about some of them.

Online Assessment
One of the trends that have evolved along with technology is online learning. This is very important
nowadays that everybody wants to avoid face-to-face contact with other people as much as possible.
Along with it comes the practice of online assessment. While this technology is not totally new, it is
becoming very significant and popular because of the pandemic as people (and classes) meet via social
media and the like. In USM our very own uVLE (University Virtual Learning Environment) uses the
Moodle platform to host virtual/online classes. This platform has its own tool that allows teachers to
create and administer online tests—maybe you have tried taking tests directly there.

One very popular online assessment tool readily available now is Google Forms. This is an online facility
that allows anyone to create and use forms to gather information from individuals. This includes event
registration, contact information, party invitation, etc. And our concern and interest here is that it offers
the option to create an online quiz.
Note: A separate file is provided as a tutorial on how to create online quizzes using Google Forms. Also,
you will be made to create an actual online quiz in Google Forms as an assignment.

Criteria in Choosing Appropriate Assessment Tools

Provided here is a simplified guide in choosing assessment tools. The teacher may consider the following
characteristics in selecting appropriate assessment tools whether conventional or ICT-based assessment:

1. Measure the desired level of performance (level of satisfaction, productivity, efficiency, student
performance)
2. Cost effective in terms of effort, time and money
3. Useful that will produce results that provide information that can be used in making decisions to
improve student learning.
4. Reasonably accurate and truthful
5. Dependable, consistent responses over time
6. Evidence of being on-going, not once and done

A more comprehensive guide can be found at

https://assessment.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1804/2016/06/
Choosing_the_Right_Assessment_Tool.pdf

References
Bilbao, P., Dequilla, M. A. C., Rosano, D., Boholano, H. (2019). Technology for Teaching and Learning 1.
Quezon City, Metro Manila: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.

mtdruittCC. (2013, April 28). Formative and Summative Assessment [Video]. YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0nSW3W4MW0

Wikipedia (n. d.). Electronic Portfolio. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_portfolio

Renard, Lucie (2016). 10+ amazing grading apps that help teachers save time.
https://www.bookwidgets.com/blog/2016/11/10-amazing-grading-apps-that-help-teachers-save-time

Google Forms. https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/