Digital Documentation: Using digital technologies to promote language assessment for the 21st century

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine Pellerin

The article describes how the use of digital technologies such as iPod and iPad contributes to the gathering of tangible evidence of students’ learning, and promotes the emergence of a new means of formative assessment that supports language teaching and learning for the 21st century. In particular, the use of such technologies by Early French Immersion learners promotes digital documentation (audio and video recording) of language learning across the curriculum, to help make the learning and thinking process more visible to teachers and students. The process of revisiting the digital documentation constitutes a new means of formative assessment that informs both the teaching and the learning. Moreover, the use of digital technologies allows students to become active participants in their own learning and assessment process. Finally, the article examines the role of oral language in the digital documentation and revision process and how this enhances the assessment of students’ learning in the 21st century language classroom.

Author(s):  
Josée Le Bouthillier ◽  
Renée Bourgoin ◽  
Joseph Dicks

This qualitative exploratory study examined the language/literacy tasks performed by elementary students from six elementary French Immersion (FI) classrooms. Various literacy tasks were performed as students rotated through different literacy centres/stations which had been pre-planned by their teachers. Specifically, researchers investigated students’ oral production and opportunities for extended oral output when working at independent learning centres/stations in order to identify key principles for creating literacy-enhancing tasks suitable for developing language literacy skills within second language (L2) contexts. Data were collected through classroom observations ( n = 23) to identify the types of literacy/language tasks proposed to L2 students, the nature of communicative functions, the targeted learning outcomes, and principles of effective L2 learning tasks. Results demonstrate the importance of adapting pedagogical practices, such as literacy centres/stations, borrowed from the first language teaching contexts to maximize L2 literacy/language learning and meet the specific needs of FI students. Results also highlighted the importance of ongoing professional learning opportunities for FI teachers specific to their L2 teaching contexts. Researchers propose principles for creating literacy/language tasks that promote oral language learning in FI contexts.


Author(s):  
Karen E. Irving

Reliable just-in-time assessments are the foundation of informed teaching and learning. Modern electronic technologies assist in the formative assessment process by supporting classroom environments that allow students and teachers to assess learning and providing mechanisms to present information about student learning during instructional sequences. To implement formative assessment practices, students and teachers benefit from rich educational tasks that invite students to share information about their understanding of the lesson while the lesson is occurring in order to nurture productive learning by both teacher and student. Formative feedback is facilitated by technologies such as connected classrooms, videography, online formative quizzes, and manuscript multi-draft editing. Technology-assisted formative assessment represents a powerful option to promote improved classroom communications that support formative assessment practices for teachers in twenty-first century classrooms.


2015 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
M. L. Oliveira ◽  
T. Silva ◽  
J. C.V. Garzón ◽  
E. Galembeck

Introduction and objectives: Apps can be designed to provide usage data, and most of them do. These data are usually used to map users interests and to deliver more effective ads that are more likely to result in clicks, and sales. We have applied some of these metrics to understand how can it be used to map students’ behavior and to promote a formative assessment using educational software. The purpose of a formative assessment is to monitor student learning to provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors and students to improve the teaching and learning process. Thus, this modality aims to help both students and instructors to identify strengths and weaknesses that need to be developed. This study aimed to describe the potential of educational apps in the formative assessment process. Material and Methods: We have implemented assessment tools embedded in three apps (ARMET, The Cell and 3D Class) used to teach: 1) Metabolic Pathways; 2) Scale of the cellular structures, and 3) Concepts from techniques used in a Biochemistry Lab course. The implemented tools allow to verify on what issues there were recurring mistakes, the total number of mistakes presented, which questions they most achieved, how long they took to perform the activity and other relevant information. Results and conclusion: Educational apps can provide transparent and coherent evaluation metrics to enable instructors to systematize more consistent criteria and indicators, reducing the subjectivity of the formative assessment process and the time spent for preparation, tabulation and analysis of assessment data. This approach allows instructors to understand better where students struggle, giving to them a more effective feedback. It also helps instructor to plan interventions to help students to perform better and to achieve the learning objectives.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Mahedi Hasan ◽  
A B M Shafiqul Islam ◽  
Israt Jahan Shuchi

With the widespread application of smartphones in and outside the classroom, mobile-based teaching and learning is drawing much attention and hence being extensively practised nowadays across the globe. Recently, using smartphones for assessment purposes has been a new phenomenon and the researchers are still examining what processes the use of mobile-based assessment tools may include and what outcomes and challenges they can cause to teachers and students in terms of learning/teaching performance, motivation and attitudes. There have been a good number of research studies on the use of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) or Mobile Learning (ML) in EFL or ESL classroom but not much literature is known about the mobile-based language assessment, especially mobile-based formative assessment (MBFA). Hence, this study attempts to shed light on MBFA and review the recent literature available on it and its effective utilization in developing ESL/EFL speaking skill. This paper uses a qualitative research method that exclusively uses the relevant secondary references/works available on the topic. The literature revealed that MBFA practices in ESL/EFL speaking classes are effective to a certain extent and some tools and procedures seem to be more effective than others depending on the design principles and strategies used by teachers or app developers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (32) ◽  
pp. 238-246
Author(s):  
Kum Yoke Soo ◽  
Nor Haniza Hasan ◽  
Hazwati Hashim ◽  
Nadiah Yahyauddin

This paper uses a descriptive approach to investigate the implementation of 21st-century classroom learning at the tertiary level. The action research observed the use of digital technology in a university’s “Week Without Walls” initiative. The purpose was to find out what activities were carried out in the “Week Without Walls” and how they were implemented in relation to 21st-century education learning. A total number of 17 lecturers’ teaching and learning activities were observed during a one-week university initiative of out-of-classroom “Week Without Walls” implementation. Lecturers were given directions to prepare their activities outside the classroom walls in any form or manner of their choice. The results showed that the majority of lecturers used digital technologies to carry out their activities during the week with the highest application being online learning and WhatsApp mobile sharing. This provided a strong indication that the possibilities of the use of digital technologies for teaching and learning are tremendous and highly recommended for the implementation of 21st-century classroom learning.


2021 ◽  
pp. 51-59
Author(s):  
Phuong D.V Van ◽  
Hien T. Lam ◽  
Lam T. Nguyen

The development of science and technology has had a strong impact on the education environment recently. The integration of digital technologies and tools in teaching and learning activities and curricula have renovated the role of the schools, educators, and learners. Accordingly, learners are at the center of the learning process while educators and schools create suitable conditions to promote creativity and autonomy in the learners' spirit. Both educators and learners need to have knowledge about digital capabilities which is one of the essential competencies in the 21st century


Author(s):  
Karen E. Irving

Reliable just-in-time assessments are the foundation of informed teaching and learning. Modern electronic technologies assist in the formative assessment process by supporting classroom environments that allow students and teachers to assess learning and providing mechanisms to present information about student learning during instructional sequences. To implement formative assessment practices, students and teachers benefit from rich educational tasks that invite students to share information about their understanding of the lesson while the lesson is occurring in order to nurture productive learning by both teacher and student. Formative feedback is facilitated by technologies such as connected classrooms, videography, online formative quizzes, and manuscript multi-draft editing. Technology-assisted formative assessment represents a powerful option to promote improved classroom communications that support formative assessment practices for teachers in twenty-first century classrooms.


2015 ◽  
pp. 1504-1523
Author(s):  
Peter B. Swanson

Rising costs, combined with an increasing lack of flexibility of commercial course management technology tools such as uLearn and Blackboard, have prompted educators to consider other options. New advances in free and open source software, webware, and hardware are becoming attractive alternatives for educators and school systems due to decreased funding. These innovative digital tools hold promise to help educators overcome a variety of impediments to teaching and learning in the 21st century such as fostering student motivation. In the context of second/foreign language learning, the author seeks to present various technologies to P-16 educators that can be used for student oral language assessment. The author provides an overview of the obstacles language teachers must overcome in order to teach more effectively, as well as a synopsis of various options with which language instructors may not be familiar. Afterwards, findings from empirical research comparing the use of digital technology for the measurement of student speaking proficiency to the more conventional face-to-face method are presented. Student and instructor perceptions of using free and open source software are discussed, and the chapter concludes with a discussion of challenges that can appear when changes in assessment methods take place as well as avenues for future research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
John Raymond Bostock

Digital Technologies (DT) including Augmented Reality (AR) provide advantages for educational provision in terms of flexible access and enhanced presentation of materials. They also continue to proffer a formidable yet exciting challenge to established teaching and learning practices. In this paper an attempt is made to research the impact of using DT and AR activities on the experiences of students who are learning modern languages generally and Spanish specifically in one tertiary Institution. Didactic methods of teaching have been superseded by the adoption of student centred learning, i.e. a collaborative and interactive learning style where the teacher is the planner, sequencer and facilitator who guides the students in achieving their learning objectives. Teacher centred, or didactic methods may have their advantages particularly when delivering explanations but can be over used and do not generally allow for active student involvement or an opportunity to use the ideas being taught. It is suggested in this study that in order to gain the maximum benefit from the use of DT and AR, there are specific curriculum and pedagogical issues to be addressed. A more focused understanding and approach is enabled by the use of the flexible learning model particularly with regard to how students learn, the role of the lecturer, the planning and development of course materials and the accessibility and reliability of both software and hardware. In addition, a review of the theories of Second Language Acquisition also provides a sound basis for researching language learning and appropriate pedagogies. Language teaching continues to adapt, respond and challenge traditional teaching and learning styles and recommendations for successful integration of DT and AR are suggested.


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