The importance of formative assessments, whether in the form of visual feedback provided by technology or auditory feedback given by the teacher , can be the most effective mechanism for engaging students in the learning process. "Many of us have heard a struggling mathematics student say something like, “I’m just not good at math. My mom wasn’t good at math either. When a student makes a connection between academic successes with factors outside of his or her control—things like heredity, gender, or race—it’s easy to develop a defeatist attitude." (Pitler, 2007) Many of the students that are in my program are the first generation to attend college in their families and have no model to follow; in some cases I am the influence that can either make or break their educational goals. The quote above points out that students need immediate feedback both visual and auditory. A teacher needs to realize that their role is not only to present curriculum, but in many cases to reinforce or encourage students to realize the role they play in their own educational goals; we may be the only 'cheerleader' in their lives.
I also need to remember that while technology can be utilized to enhance the delivery of curriculum to optimize the experience of diverse learners, the course outcomes must be met and assessed. The emphasis on the balance between the focus on technology and assessment in our readings has already proven to be invaluable in my program. I have provided detailed rubrics for my class final projects to ensure that students understand what is expected of them and outcomes are clearly defined.
Reference:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Chapter 8. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
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