Laptops: The New Way of Test Taking

Assessment Made Easy by Andrew A. Zucker

In Colorado, the Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) has adopted a new method of assessment. Each student who attends DSST receives a laptop where they may do their work, but more importantly take their exams. Teachers are capable of inserting multiple choice, short answer and even essay questions into a program that is installed on every computer and laptop at DSST. What the instructors have discovered about this program is that it is extremely beneficial to their classroom and teaching. The student’s exams are graded immediately and results are sent to the teacher, except for the essays, which allows teachers to recognize where the students are falling behind, and the instructors are capable of re-teaching that material the very same day. Also, teachers are using these one-on-one laptops in language arts. Students can write a paragraph or essay and submit it to their teachers that day in class. After teachers receive the assignment, they are capable of pulling up any assignment and displaying it from their projector without showing the students’ name. This allows the teacher to edit a person’s work the same day with the help of the class. Teachers are pleased with this option because it allows them to cover the entire writing process in one day. Also, these laptops are being used for science purposes. In laboratory settings, students can complete their lab assignment, and as they do so, their results can be immediately uploaded to their laptops. Using this one-on-one method of assessment has had positive effects on the students and teachers of DSST, connecting the student to their work in an unconventional way.

This assessment program reminds me of the WebCt and clicker systems that are used here at our school. The program that is installed on these laptops allows for a combination of taking quizzes/exams with immediate results, but also the program allows students to have class discussions and submit assignments. I found this to be an interesting technique to be used in the classroom, and is something I would consider employing in the future. Using this form of assessment would allow me to spend less time grading, and more time focusing on the subject matters and topics that students are falling behind in. I thought that one way I may adapt this for a science class is by having students complete their labs. As the students work, their results would be uploaded to a computer. Afterwards, I would have students search the internet to discover if their results were correct or skewed. As a closing assignment, I might have students type up a short reflection on what their results were compared to the results they should have discovered. Once they complete their reflection, they would submit it to me via the program. This would allow me to cover multiple subjects, from science to writing all in one class setting. I believe that this program is very beneficial to teachers as it will cut down grading time, and allow teachers to have neatly written assignments; educators would no longer have to struggle through sloppy handwriting if reports and papers were submitted electronically. I hope that one day we will all have the opportunity to use a program such as this to improve teaching within our own classrooms.