Technology to Demonstrate Competencies

Competency-based learning refers to “systems of instruction, assessment, grading, and academic reporting that are based on students demonstrating that they have learned the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress through their education.” Each article and video had a different focus, but they all stemmed around the idea of competency-based learning. I also learned that there are many different ways and resources that can help show students competency within a classroom.

The article “100 Things Students Can Create to Demonstrate What They Know” helps to show and provide many different ideas on how students can show their competencies. I believe my Kindergarten students can students can demonstrate competencies using the technology listed below.

• Audio/Video recording:  They can use Flipgrid or VoiceThread to record their thoughts and ideas rather than typing them out. This is a great tool for younger students to use that do not know how to read, spell and type yet. They may need some strong guidance when first learning about Flipgrid and VoiceThread but with lots of practice, I believe my kindergarten students could successfully use this.
• Virtual Class discussion: You could have a graded class discussion that everyone needs to participate. Having each student sharing their own thoughts and ideas allows the teacher to gain students understandings.
• Digital Drawing or Collage: Many young students enjoy the arts, especially creating things using their imagination. My kindergarten students enjoy using their iPads to create drawings and picture collages during free time, so I believe it will be a fun and engaging way to show their competencies.
• Kahoot!: This is a fun and engaging way to learn students’ competencies. Kahoot! is a virtual assessment tool that allows teachers to search and/or create quizzes. This is completed as a whole class or in small groups but displays all student’s knowledge for teachers to record.