Assessment: The Learning Journal

What is the need? 

When hearing the word "assessment," one thinks exams and that there are no do-overs if you make a mistake. For many, this is how we are taught as well as how it feels to take state-mandated achievement tests each. This is not the only data that sums up the student’s learning over the school year. Assessments are completely different from before and today is one of the most powerful tools to impact students, it allows us to think Where am I going? Where am I now? How can I close the gap?  

I had connected James Yanuzzelli, a Schoology Representative and had the opportunity to talk with him about the use of assessments in Schoology. This platform allows educators to build amazing assessments, where teachers can manage quizzes and materials and review results. This promotes communication and enhances learning. The educator can attach a range of assessments such as discussions, quizzes, packets and much more that can be given both a grading and learning objective. What’s great about this resource is that I can use preloaded standards to show and explain each student’s progress, I can also view the average class grade and expectations.

A problem you are trying to solve?

The problem I am trying to solve is how to create assessments and differentiate instruction that can align with standards and learning goals to create instructional groups. Also, using assessments as a way to show progress and not just a score. Using assessments as a way to build collaboration opportunities and learn from one another. Schoology can have a significant impact on educators because it allows teachers time to reflect.   

Why this is important for the future classroom?

Schoology already has state standards and Common Core, built in, but what is interesting is that you can create your own (or used existing standards). I find that rubrics do not have to just be about projects but can be used to measure success. For example, rubrics can be used for assignments, discussion board responses, collaboration, participation and assessment questions.  Students are able to collaborate and learn from their mistakes and try the best they can. By using rubrics students can rate themselves and teachers and students can provide feedback. The most important thing is that students clearly understand the success criteria. 

Even though I have not implemented Schoology in the classroom, in regard to assessments I can see this resource can have the potential to empower students and create less stress on grading in the elementary school level and show student creativity. One way you can use Schoology to provide information without assigning a grade is to give the assessment or assignment a zero" factor. When selecting "Grading options" in an assessment or assignment, you have the option to give it a 0 factor. Students will still see feedback and items that are correct and incorrect but it’s not worth a grade but attempt and trying ones best will be. 

How would I apply it in my classroom?

I would have students self-assess their world. If you have a rubric or a checklist that you want students to use for self-assessment, you can create an assessment with the rubric or checklist descriptors as separate questions (either multiple choice, fill in the blank drop down, or matching).  As students decide where they are in relation to the checklist or rubric, the information is tracked for you in the "results" tab. And, if students are allowed to resubmit, you can see their answers for each revision. If you aren’t trying to track responses for the class,  you could use this approach to have a conference with a student. Consider using the highlight image question type where students can circle or annotate on the rubric and then confer with you about their response.

If you tie assignments or assessments to your learning objectives or standards, the mastery view will provide the learner with information about whether or not they are meeting the objective.  One of the best things about mastery in Schoology is that it helps students see multiple assignments that are tied to the same target. 

Explain how you would have student’s start using it?

 I would have students reflect on their learning. There is also a "journal-like" option for reflection for students to not share. It allows students to reflect on where they are with learning goals. As students are engaging in the learning process, knowing where they are without fear of a wrong answer or a bad grade helps keep them focused on where they are going and how to achieve this goal.

Describe a lesson you would teach with this?

Through each lesson, I would provide descriptive feedback that will focus on the intended learning, identifies specific strengths, points to areas needing improvement, and recommend a route of action for students to close the achievement gap.  I would use rubrics as well to provide focused feedback about a specific learning target/goal with the use of webcam comments, text comments, models or exemplars and much more so students can have the opportunity to revise and resubmit an assignment.

An example would be If I discovered that half of my students are making errors in multiplication facts dealing with numbers larger than 7, it doesn't make sense just to hand out a grade to each student and move on to long division. This data lets me know that I need to review the problem areas and provide extra practice before moving on. I can then target instruction and provide enrichment activities or individualized learning for those who are ready to move on.

Another example is that I would assess students by letter and number identification on Schoology instead of flashcards. I could use a true-false click test. This will provide me the results immediately and my students and I will be able to see where students made progress and need extra practice with.

Troubles you may come across?

After learning from other teachers and what they are doing in their classroom with their iPads right now, I noticed that everything is 1 to 1. iPads are not being used as a way of communicating and collaborate. Students are just completing assessments.

Students are able to be more creative when using Schoology. When discussing with a few teachers about Schoology,  it what was really fun hearing all their ideas. Everything from spelling tests, to the classroom newsletters, the teacher's creativity, and innovation is truly amazing. This can be all started when a teacher listens to what the early elementary teachers said they needed. Many teachers want to grow and continue being learners. The most challenging piece is encouraging teachers to try Schoology even though they have been using their teaching methods for a long time. I also feel that because teachers do not have enough time to reflect on themselves, it is hard for teachers to try new methods and have time to reflect on everything happening in the classroom.

Things you wish were different about the app?

I do not see anything wrong with this resource. I find that for the 21st-century learner, these are skills that both educators and students can use to create a collaborative and creative environment. These collaborative learning experiences provide effective management, global learning communities and inspiring interactions. Teachers can communicate with one another and motivate and engage students in many learning experiences.