Lesson Planning + Technology = Success
When developing lesson plans, there is a large array of information that needs to be considered; standard criteria, student learning modalities, differentiated delivery, areas of strength and weakness, and all of this before even arriving at the content of the lesson. Utilizing technology to aid in lesson planning is a first step to a more comprehensive solution to teacher effectiveness and student success. As demands increase, resources are developed to help curb those demands. The ability to create customized assessments from a repository of performance-aligned questions, pinpoint areas in need of improvement with standards-based assessments, and supplement education with individualized eLearning, can truly help teachers focus on optimizing student learning.
Customizing Evaluations with Item Bank
One of the challenges teachers face when lesson planning, aside from limited time, is the need for differentiated instruction. A popular online tool that can assist in this challenge is an item bank tool. An item bank is a mine of questions that can be chosen to create an assessment. In many of these tools, the questions are mapped to standards, are formatted similar to state test questions, and are interchangeable with comparable questions to provide customization and appeal to teacher preference. This allows educators to develop customized assessments that measure specific performance indicators, and in many circumstances, to receive comprehensive data analysis of student strengths and weaknesses in a fraction of the time it takes to create a traditional test.
Measuring Success with Assessment Creator
Whether using an item bank, or developing an online assessment from scratch, online assessment tools are plentiful and have several advantages over paper and pencil tests. According to a recent survey completed by eLearning Industry that poled 255 teachers, 46% plan to exclusively use online assessment for testing within the next 5 years. These tools are optimized for customization to meet the requirements of individual students’ accommodations and modifications. They often allow for instant grading upon completion as well as the ability to pinpoint each student’s areas in need of improvement. Some assessment tools even offer small and whole group plans based on the analysis of assessment results. Not only can these tools save educators time in development, but they can produce a wealth of invaluable information to help determine how to augment instruction to close any learning gaps and elevate student achievement.
Supplementing Traditional Instruction with eLearning
One increasingly popular trend in education is the steady incline of eLearning to supplement traditional instruction. An article published by The Journal, an educational technology journal, stated that the growth in preK-12 education will “dominate all other segments” of eLearning growth and is due to the relentless migration to online content formats and also due to the proliferation and success of for-profit online schools. eLearning promotes personalized instruction through the ability to address each student’s needs. Some eLearning tools provide an integrated infrastructure between online assessments and the ability to analyze the results and automate individual learning plans addressing each topic of which the student needs additional practice. When lesson planning, incorporating online learning into those plans increases the use of technology in the classroom, can be tailored to student learning preference, and is an excellent way to differentiate instruction.
When planning the next lesson, consider this bit of advice from Bill Gates; “If you give people tools, and they use their natural abilities and their curiosity, they will develop things in ways that will surprise you very much beyond what you have expected.” Technology is a pervasive resource that can be molded to fit any teaching philosophy. It is a tool that should be taken advantage of, which when integrated properly, can create a world of opportunity for educators and students alike.
