Technology to Demonstrate Competencies

Based on the resources given, there are a multitude of ways, aside from the usual quiz/test, for students to show they are following with the content material. The standard quiz/test is fine but giving students the option or options to use other methods allows the student to be more creative. It also takes away a big portion of stress, seeing as many people stress about quizzes and tests. With the option to try another method, students aren’t forced into stress and anxiety by taking a test or quiz. Those are easy, we’ve used these for years but branching out can really expand the students learning capabilities and broaden their creativity in the classroom 

Students can participate in both formal and informal assessments using technology. Using technology gives students options as to how they want to show their learning in a unique and creative way. Using technology also allows students to demonstrate their learning and competency in a modern and engaging way. By giving students a simple quiz or test it limits the ways in which students are able to demonstrate their competency. With different technologies such as Nearpod, and Kahoot, the process for students to showcase their learning is much more interactive and engaging. 

The first article that I read it describes competency based learning as the system of assessment, instruction, and grading. The overall goal of competency based learning is to make sure students are learning what they need to learn to succeed in life. Depending on the grade level and your school location, competency based learning may look different. In recent years, researchers have noticed that higher grades such as middle school and high school have begun to adapt this approach to learning. However before that, it was only used in elementary classrooms. One down side to this learning system is that teachers stick to one way that works rather than trying different things. For example, if a teacher started using powerpoint to relay material to students and they found that it worked well, some teachers would stick to that way of teaching. However, in order to be successful in your teaching career variation is a key component. Teachers don't like doing something over and over again so why would they expect their students to enjoy it. Many times this is the cause of misbehaviors. If the same method is used everyday students are going to get bored and not want to participate anymore. On the other hand, many teachers stick to paper and pencil. Lately, technology has been a key component in education. Therefore, teachers need to start adapting technology into their classroom. To do this, they can try various websites, projects, or activities. Teachers can use audio recordings, videos, and powerpoints to describe material. They can also have students use technology to take tests, fill out worksheets or turn in assignments.In addition to these resources, there are many other options teachers can look to to incorporate technology into their classroom. Many teachers have started using things like jamboard, kahoot, google forms, peardeck, and so on. These sites and resources allow for students to be more engaged and want to learn more rather than just doing the same thing everyday. 

Based on the resources given, there are so many other options for students to demonstrate their competency with content other than the usual quiz/test format that many teachers turn to. By giving students other options to show what they have learned, teachers take out the test anxiety that some students can get when it comes to tests/quizzes which can hinder their ability to show what they have learned. Students are able to create products to show competency, as well, which gives students creative ability and students are able to really demonstrate what they have learned from the material. It is easy to just turn back to quizzes and tests but by doing that, teachers aren't allowing students to be creative and problem solve which are two important skills they actually need when it comes to jobs post-college.

Technology can be used to show how much students have learned or what they are learning about. There are various ways for students to demonstrate this. GoogleSlides is a great way for students to show what they have learned in a format that is easy for students to comprehend and take get information from. Another way for students to show what they have learned through technology is to take online quizzes that assess what they've learned.

Although I have yet to be in charge of a classroom, I imagine that I will not be administering many quizzes or exams to my students. Theatre is all about creation. How can a multiple-choice question gauge that? "100 Things Students Can Create to Demonstrate What They Know" by Ryan Schaaf is an excellent resource for alternatives to determining competence. Although many of these can already be found in a theatre arts class, such as monologues, dance, and role-playing, there are other options that can push students' communication, creativity, and critical thinking skills even further. For example, I could ask students to devise a comic strip summarizing the events of a play instead of administering an exam. My mentor teacher and I have implemented this idea in our unit on Hamlet through the use of Pixton.com. We've allowed students to create their own unique productions of Hamlet in comic book form. As long as they accurately feature significant plot points, they can set the story in whatever time and place they desire (which is done frequently to Shakespeare's plays). The results have been incredible. Other options, specifically for in-depth character study, could range from curating a fake social media account (specifically Instagram or Twitter) as a character in the play to writing diary (or blog) entries detailing events in the play from their point of view.

One way that students can show competency outside of a test or quiz is to create some sort of product. These products can take many forms. One form that I am a fan of is Google Slides. It's more of a substitution, but students really enjoy creating a slide show to show what they have learned. Every year, we do a Native American research project. This year, I asked the students to work collaboratively on a Google Slide presentation to show what they learned about their Native American region. I found that my students better understood their region because of what they had to create. A test or quiz on the subject would have also shown they understood, but this project really asked them to apply their understandings. It also allowed for collaboration with their peers.
Another way students can show understanding is through some type of performance assessment. This could be in the form of an escape room. Students must utilize what they have learned and use problem solving strategies to "escape". 
Lastly, students can use Flipgrid to show their understanding. Flipgrid is a great tool to use when you want students to verbally respond to the questions. Students can also participate in debates using Flipgrid or hold Socratic seminars using the tool.

Data-based instruction is all the rage. Yes, it is good to have data to move a lesson along or reteach something. However, data does not have to come from a test or quiz. A teacher can take data from anything a student does. For formative assessments, I could use different technology resources to show competencies. They could be a Kahoot game, a GimKit, or so many other tools that are out there. Summative learning could be having the students demonstrate their learning through whatever they feel most comfortable with. This could be a movie trailer or a speech. The idea is to give the students the creative freedom to show you what they have learned. 

I teach a low level science class and I've been trying to shift to competency based learning for some time now. In a school that is rooted in a point based grading scale, my shift has been slow but I believe that students can demonstrate understanding in a variety of ways as students can struggle with mainstream testing methods.

In the past, I've had students create wanted posters for different elements, help wanted radio advertisements for different jobs in the chemistry field, and create board games for the classroom. I've also started creating choice boards for students so they get to choose how them demonstrate their knowledge. I think the "100 Things Students Can Demonstrate What They Know" provides some great ideas for non-test assessments.

I like this approach to checking competencies for multiple reasons:
1. Because students are choosing their assessment, they tend to put forth more effort in the activities.
2. It gives students ample opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of the material
3. Since it requires students to apply their knowledge and create something, it is more difficult to cheat on.