Week+2+Assignment+Part+2.6,+Reading+Reflection+for+ISTE+Chapter+4

====This stanard is about assessment and evaluation. There is a need to assess student learning and student technological literacy. We also need to evaluate data and how well technology programs are implemented. This standard opened up some other uses of assessment and evaluation for me. I have used tech with student data and to some extent for assessing core standards. It almost seems painfully obvious but I have never really considered how you can use technology to assess the use of technology! Perhaps part of the problem is that I have never been part of a school where the technology standards were taken seriously. ====

====As a math instructional coach and classroom teacher I have used technology for both assessing students and then using that data to make instructional decisions. In fact, one of the performance scenarios is exactly what my school district did about 7 years ago. They wanted interim assessment data before the high-stakes standardized test. They contracted with a vendor to design the tests as well as a way for teachers and others to access the data. They did this in mathematics and the teachers were able to dis aggregate data by student, content standard, etc (Mullins, 2010). As the coach, a big part of my job was the proper implementation of the tests, and training the teachers to use the data they provided to guide and inform instruction. This reading reminded me of the importance of using data to inform teachers and to drive instruction. ====

====I would gauge my effectiveness in implementing this standard by how well the teachers actually used the student data. Some would do what was required at the training but there was no buy-in or change of practice. I would use backward design planning (McTighe & Thomas, 2003) to design professional development so that is had a high probability of success. Part of being a coach was to encourage the teachers to try something beyond what they had done previously. As always, the course content and the imput of my fellow students at Lamar were invaluable in this process. ====

====One of the components of this standard that has really caught my interest is “adaptive computer-based testing". It has always bothered me that computers have not been used to their full potential to differentiate instruction. Teachers do not have the time or the tools to differentiate as much as they would like to. My daughters are home-schooled and use an online program called ALEKS, (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces). ALEKS is based on research called Knowledge Space Theory. But one of the strengths of the program is that it is completely adaptive. Students can demonstrate mastery of a standard and not have to endure continuing to do problems and exercises as in a traditional classroom. Conversely, if there is a problem area the program continues to adapt and build up the necessary prerequisite skills for understanding and mastery. I would love to see more of this implemented in an ongoing basis at traditional elementary schools. ====

====Mullins, C. (2010). //Comprehensive Assessment Program to Support Instruction.// [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from LAUSD website: http://notebook.lausd.net/portal/page?_pageid=33,167651&_dad=ptl&_schema=PTL_EP ====

====//Research Behind ALEKS- Knowledge Space Theory.// Retrieved on November 23, 2010, from http://www.aleks.com/about_aleks/knowledge_space_theory ====