Yes. Letting students use technology during tests is the best way to prepare them for the future.
30% (142 votes)
Maybe. It may be worthwhile to allow students to use some digital devices, but we must create strict guidelines so that we are assessing both the students' technological skills and their knowledge base.
47% (220 votes)
No. Technological tools have no place in a testing environment. Testing should assess only what students have already learned or can solve for themselves.
23% (110 votes)
Total votes: 472
Comments (17)
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Access yes but ensure there's equality of opportunity for all
I agree 100% that we should allow students access to online materials as long as using them is a) relevant to the task and b) the quality of how the material researched and how it was then used is actually assessed through the test.
Most importantly, if a particular group of students is made to sit that test then it is paramount that they have equality of access to the technology (and, ideally, have had equally good training opportunities in how to use this e-learning tool).
We have become test crazy!
The test of understanding is if students can transfer knowledge to solve new problems. Our expectations cannot be limited to retrieval of information, recital of facts, and repetition of procedures. Technology is an enabler that can be used correctly during assessment if in instruction its power is demonstrated. The more time available for thinking the better: that's what technology can promote!
What are you testing them on
If the questions on your test can be Googled, then why are you testing them on it? There are far better ways to test information through application. You can see more about this in my post about Curbing Plagiarism in the Classroom.
Did any of you see this article? It was very interesting to see how pervasive this is in our classroom and for me it reminded me of the need to reinvent our definition of assessment: http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/
It Depends
The teacher needs to decide what he/she is assessing and then make that clear to students. If you are assessing their use of a calculator then they should be able to use it.
Technology is defined as: "Technology is the usage and knowledge of tools, techniques, and crafts, or is systems or methods of organization" (Google)
Let the students use what they need in order to demonstrate learning. This is simple.
Read this: Teaching Attitude
Tech stuff
We should but then again some people might cheat by texting when we are using cels. Or computers, we might be cheating by sending emails and txt messages. It also could be a diseraction!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So we must be careful if we get these rights be4 we use them. (Yes, I'm using txting language and stuff and etc. I'm a Kenyan/ American, but knows the habits of most people)
Learning vs. testing
I agree completely with Shafeen. Knowledge is not about memorizing facts, which are so easy to find quickly these days it's almost absurd. As educators, many of us realize that learning is not about quantity, but rather quality. Not only would I let students use whatever resources they had available, I would allow them to re-submit, actually, require them to re-submit their work until it was near-perfect and I felt that they had really learned and understood something that they knew little about before.
Real-world
If the exams are a reflection of real-world processes and applications, then the appropriate tools should be made available and used to their fullest ability. If we bottle up all that we believe is important and dwindle it down to a test measuring something related to god-knows-what, and expect that this end result is what everyone should know and be able to do, then forget technology, not even quality instruction is necessary because teaching to the test gets you there faster.
The tools they are using now don't compare to what is coming in 5 years and many adults don't even know how to use the full extent of their cell phones now! Technology is what makes us jump in generations. The reason we are stalled is that "conservative types" cling on to what they consider is the tried and true, back to basics. Nothing wrong with the chisel and stone for publications either, but I sure am glad I'm not a stone mason with today's information!
Embrace the technology so it becomes as useful and inexpensive as the disposable pen. I can just hear those berry growers and turkey quill pullers now!
Not sure I have anything new
Not sure I have anything new to add but I have to add my support to the above comments on several levels
1. it is more important to me how they use the quadratic equation than if the memorized it
2. We do have to redefine what we are testing...factual knowledge or critical thinking, problem solving and application- I f we are striving to move to the highest level of Blooms then by all means use technology.
3. We need to be diligent and proactive in seeking digital equity for all students...we need to assure ubiquitous access not limiting its use.
technology k-8
Because some students are disadvantaged based on their home situation, it is our duty to teach the students how to efficiently access specific information via technology, and this should be practiced and tested. Allowing students to access technology tools in a test has its time and place but certainly will not eliminate the traditional tests without the use of technology.
I think that students can learn from each other and should have opportunities to search for information as a team. Placing such an internet search for specific information in a test situation will focus the students. Whether this will show the students' knowledge about English language related issues depends on the teacher's way of formulating the test question.
What Is It That We Are Testing?
Are we testing "technology use" and applying various research skills? If not...then the answer is "NO!" Might it be worthwhile to test those skills? In the beginning of the 21st Century, "YES!" The basic skills we are generally testing are generally basic skills. We need to assess those as real skills, still necessary in the 21st Century. We don't need to know if a student's sister knows the end of the story and that his friend knows the quadratic equation. Is access to various forms of technology an issue? "MAYBE...!" That will probably be the topic of another survey....