Classroom Teacher

To facilitate the testing of higher order learning skills, TRIADS (Tripartite Interactive Assessment Delivery System), an interactive assessment system, delivers a broad range of question styles in a number of different modes.

This application helps teachers create interactive forms of assessment that are then posted on the web where students can access them. The types of assessment include multiple-choice quizzes, short answer quizzes, jumbled-sentences, crosswords, gap-fill exercises, and matching/ordering.

Edu 2.0 is located at www.edu20.org

Edu 2.0 is a unique site founded in 2006 by Graham Glass. It is a free online service where you can host an entire class, enroll in public classes, share resources or have a dialogue in an online community.

How was the technology integrated into the assessment environment?

Edu 2.0 is a simplified version of Moodle, Blackboard, etc. It is completely web-based. An educator can privately enroll students and then host a diverse group of assessment tools including quizzes, wiki's, blogs, forums, chats, debates, and feeds. A gradebook, calendar and other tools are also available.

-What method (observation, selected response, written response, personal communication, performance, student reflection) of assessments were implemented using the technology? (Questions, see Stuart chapter ?)

Most, if not all, of these assessments could be implemented using this technology.

Was this a technology that replaced a current method of assessment or does it provide assessment opportunities previously not available without the advent of this technology. (For an in depth discussion of this, refer to the NAP article)

This technology could potentially replace move many traditional assessments online which would save an enormous amount of time for educators.

In your opinion, what were some of the benefits of the tool?

The benefits of this technology are numerous, but among other things it's free! It is also very easy to learn and use, I created a mock class in about 5 minutes. The other incredible part of Edu 2.0 is sharing resources, any lesson you submit is archived and usable by the other thousands of educators on the site. What an incredible way to create an online community of professionals sharing work?

In your opinion, what are the limitations of the tool?

So far I haven't found many. The quiz generator takes a while to write a quiz, but the payback for the educator is in the grading time. I also noticed that I can't "preview" the actual pages that students would be using. For example the only way that I've found to preview a quiz that I've written is to create a fake name and enroll in my own class. Anyone who has given written directions to a teenager knows that the format in which they're delivered is very important. I'm not so sure how easy it would be for a traditional classroom student to adjust to a complete online class.

Do you see this as a tool that could be used in your educational setting?

I've got plans to use it next year, assuming that there is sufficient hardware in the classroom, the school, and the home to give students equitable access to their schoolwork.

Where did you learn about the tool (formal evaluation reports, vender case studies, etc.)?

I learned about the tool from our school's technology PLC group.

Describe the technology being used?

The technology is a simple, free educational blog that is internet accessible and gives the teacher control over all editing, set up, and class blogging aspects.

How was the technology integrated into the assessment environment?

The technology gives each student their own personal space to make their own. (via graphics, descriptions, images, backgrounds, and other web designs) allowing them to become familiar with social networking design options, links, transferring and inserting images, researching, and reading other blogs/ web sites critically.

The teacher sets up an administrative role and controls assignments and messages posted on the blogs for each student. As assignments are completed, the instructor reads through the blogs/ comments, and applies a rubric for assignment response. The instructor also has the ability to write comments to the student via their blog, creating a much more thorough and authentic feedback system. (Much more effective, in my opinion, than a simple number grade that students are so used to seeing, registering, and ignoring.)

-What method (observation, selected response, written response, personal communication, performance, student reflection) of assessments were implemented using the technology?

The assessments for this technology can range from simple responses about the main points learned in class that day and commenting on other students posts- to reading collegiate professors blogs, journal articles, viewing animations from textbook or professional sites (USGS.gov for example), or reviewing a film that was watched that day in class.

It can also be for free response, group project communication, or just as a group discussion board around a topic. (I have had a “weirdest science fact” contest every year)

Was this a technology that replaced a current method of assessment or does it provide assessment opportunities previously not available without the advent of this technology. (For an in depth discussion of this, refer to the NAP article)

This allows the instructor to have more methods of assessment, more comment space, and opens up a realm of information for students that most are quite comfortable with. For students that will not write much on paper, they may be willing to sit and write much more- supporting it with images, links, and research that would normally go by the pen and paper wayside.

In your opinion, what were some of the benefits of the tool?

Student comfort, increased technology usage, better information, introduction to web design techniques as well as giving students an outlet for class reflections.

In your opinion, what are the limitations of the tool?

If students do not have internet access at home, they must work harder to make the time to blog. Without clear focus and expectations, students could miss opportunities to further explore topics.

Do you see this as a tool that could be used in your educational setting?

Absolutely! Provided the majority of students have access to blogs throughout their day, or at home.

Where did you learn about the tool (formal evaluation reports, vender case studies, etc.)?

I learned that there are many blog sites out there, but educational tool blogs are much more user friendly, as well as FERPA friendly. It is good for an educator to have control over who is blogging, editing, and content.

If you want to use Second Life as an avenue to collaborate with other educators, this site will help you get started. You will find resources, tutorials, and folks to contact.

This is a GEOSS activity. Joanne Owen uses GIMP with her students for a project that involves enlarging and painting a monochromatic self-portrait. GIMP is an open source application for editing bit-mapped images. GIMP is available from: http://www.gimp.org

This is a GEOSS activity by Bjorn Berhendt. He used VUE, an open source application for concept mapping, to make a Family tree. VUE is available at, .

BJ wrote these documents in the .odt format, but VTcite would not load them, so they have been uploaded as .doc files. This had to be done in OpenOffice because Word will not open .odt documents. He also has a sample VUE document that could not be uploaded.

These attached documents are GEOSS activities, created to use open source software to teach to mathematics GEs. The activities were initially Logo activities. These were field tested. The activities have been adapted to use Scratch instead of Logo. The Scratch adaptations have not been field tested.

Scratch is available as a free download at the MIT website:

Geometry From Scratch is a classic activity that is normally done using Logo to draw and rotate a square. What's the Point has students use Cartesian Coordinates to draw shapes. Exploring Polygons From Scratch is an adaptation of the Logo program, Poly, that will draw any regular polygon.

If your looking for some lessons and projects for your students, to enhancer their student learning through technology check out some of the lesson plans from Microsoft by subject that cover grades K-12.
Geography
• Giants of the century
• Globalization comes to the table
• Life along the Ring of Fire
• Map reading in the 21st century
• Take a road trip
History
• Archaeological finds
• Current currencies
• History and culture through food
• The Olympics
• What is jazz?
Language arts
• A view from the top
• Bridging the generation gap
• Examining character traits
• Literary scavenger hunt
• Save a species
Mathematics
• Making money from lemons
• Identifying perfect numbers
• Investigating daylight
• Candy is dandy
• Track family water usage
Science and technology
• Acid rain in our state
• How do earthquakes affect buildings?
• Meteorologist for a day
• The Human Genome Project
• The story of milk
Social studies
• Around the world calendar
• Do you know the story of Pomp?
• Pita tortilla baguette
• Tell a totem story
• The life of a bill

This is simply an interesting site that gives you answers to lots of lifes questions like will your eyes stay crossed if you keep crossing them?
You can Explore the world of wild animals, pets and extinct species. Learn about ants, dinosaurs, mammals and everything that crawls, swims or flies under the sun. Other categories include:
• Animals • Auto • Business & Money • Communication • Computer • Electronics • Entertainment • Food & Recipes • Geography • Health • History • Home & Garden • People • Science • Travel
I learned that dogs can, with patience, learn about 160 words. I guess I don’t have patience or I have dumb dogs. If you are feeling down, listen to Dinky the singing dingo. You will have to smile.