Week 9: Promoting Student Success Instead of Student Test Scores

This week I was able to read to different types of articles.  One article was written by O'Byrne, Schenke, Willisi, and Hickey focused around using digital badges.  Another article focused around how computer assessments are impacting ELL students.

O'Bryne et al. (2015) discusses the idea of using digital badges to symbolize technological accomplishments of students.  Students can complete micro achievements in order to collectively complete macro achievements.  Student then can use the achievements to showcase their skills and talents in the digital world.  A lot of students have been able to use these badges to get college scholarships and show their skills in this every changing digital land.

Fenner (2015) focused around this issues with using computer-based testing specifically with ELL students.  As many of the computer-based tests are still early on in practice they are showing a clear gap between students not receiving ELL services and those that are.  These disadvantages are not allowing the true skills and talents of these students to be represented.

While reading these two different articles discuss different issues the root of the articles focus on ways to allow all students to succeed.  I really liked the idea of digital badges.  I think in the classroom this could look like a portfolio. I think with technology advancing it would be very cool to have students have e-portfolios.  We know students succeed when given choice. If all students were able to pick the way to show they could master the standard then it could show the students actual skills not their ability to test online.

By allowing students to create portfolios, this also addresses the many accommodations suggested by Fenner (2015).  Portfolios would allow students to work with less restrictive timing.  This would also allow for the tasks to better meet the students needs and for directions to be clarified in ways that meet individuals needs.

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I think that high stakes testing is here to stay.  As a teacher I am always looking for ways to show my students they are more than just a test.  I think using a portfolio, similar to badges could help my classroom do just that.  Students need time, tasks that challenge them as an individual and accommodations in order to succeed.  I found a website that discusses web tools to create student portfolios.

I think in addition to creating portfolios it is essential to provide students with ample practice time with computer-based assessments.  In my classroom we know there are many students that need to improve their computer literacy.  By providing tasks online and continuing to improve computer literacy I think we can take steps in the write direction to supporting students success instead of just testing it.