B+, 4, O, 73%–these marks and the like are terrible storytellers. After all, how can one impassive mark describe a student’s chronicle of small triumphs, daily perseverance, and long-term growth? On the other hand, is it even possible to record and convey complex learning journeys in a way that isn’t cumbersome?
If any of this sounds familiar, explore Google Drive as a possible solution to strike the balance! Increase your accuracy, efficiency, and transparency by checking out some examples and tips below.
Increasing ACCURACY
Your clipboard and pen still have a place in certain formative assessment note-taking. But for more in-depth situations, a Google Form with prefilled lists to choose from can help you generate much more comprehensive–and accessible–notes. In a recent #5thchat, @Mr_Ullman shared his forms for writing and reading conferences. We especially love his use of drop-down menus to easily select student names, writing cycle stages, and comprehension strategies, and more.
Other Accuracy Possibilities:
- Use the Scale feature (ie 1 to 5) to record students’ confidence in their book selections.
- Use the Checkboxes feature on which outcome(s) students are currently working toward.
- Use the Grid feature for assessing progress in a class-generated science rubric.
Increasing EFFICIENCY
Most schools require benchmarks assessments, typically at the beginning, middle, and end of the year. Ready-made benchmark programs often come with assessment sheets, but why not create your own multifunctional and tailored document? For example, I decided to consolidate reading, writing, math, and behavior benchmarks all into one Google Document. I also made student-friendly alterations so we could use the same sheets during our student-led parent teacher conferences (see extra resources & how-to here); I also added grade-level-specific rubrics, tables, and data.
Other Efficiency Possibilities:
- Take items directly from your school’s report card (such as behavior descriptors), and turn them into a Google Form. Then, convert your quarter-long formative notes into summatives as you observe patterns and/or calculate averages in the responses spreadsheet.
- Using tables to record data across the year saves you more than just time and paper–it also allows students and parents to better track and discuss growth themselves.
- Share a form with students as a quick exit ticket after a lesson or unit.
Increasing TRANSPARENCY
Sharing assessment data with students can be accompanied with uncertainty–how much should we share? How do we keep them from becoming preoccupied with numbers? Will they feel defined by scores? However, I’ve come to realize that as long as we discuss data in the context of process over product, it can become yet another way to empower students with ownership over their learning. In addition, the share features in Google Drive are ideal for fostering communication among students, parents, and teachers. We are advocates for harnessing technology for more in-depth and authentic collaboration among all involved in student learning!
Other Transparency Possibilities:
- Duplicate Google Documents like the benchmark data sheet so each student (and their parents) can access their own online version.
- Share forms you use for formative assessments with parents to give them a clear picture of what’s happening in class.
- Invite parents to leave comments for you or for their student!
How else have you used Google Documents and Forms for more accurate, efficient, and transparent assessments? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!
Photo Credits
- Featured image: Cocoan Daily Photos via Flickr Creative Commons