What is one of the most remarkable changes that occurred in the education sector in the last few years? The answer lies in the resurgence of online learning; institutes adopted ed-tech solutions to improve teaching and learning methodologies.
Hence, it is hardly surprising that the global eLearning market is projected to reach around $325 billion by 2025 with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 7%. Furthermore, strategic assessments have become crucial to determine student learning patterns.
And that is where Digital Evaluation tools play an integral role; schools and colleges can use them to assess students’ abilities, characteristics, behaviours, etc. Also, they can implement the tool to facilitate effective assessments through the following ways.
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Significance of Digital Evaluation Tools
An examination is a vital educational procedure that allows teachers to test students’ knowledge and comprehension levels. However, the traditional pen-and-paper method entails an elaborate process wherein teachers manually check and remark on answer sheets.
In effect, it takes considerable time to complete the evaluation of a particular class’s assessment. On the other hand, when teachers use digital tools like the learning management system, they complete the task within a reduced time.
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Online Polling
Who says that institutes must use assessments for the sole purpose of evaluating students’ subject knowledge? Global education trends encourage schools and colleges to utilise exams strategically and to make them a part of regular classroom sessions.
Furthermore, determining their behaviour and interests is an innovative way to improve student learning habits. For instance, online polling is an excellent medium through which teachers can ask a question with different options.
So, the option that gets the maximum percentage will help understand the expectations and interests of students. Furthermore, they can use the online polling mechanism before the start of a new lesson and after the lesson’s end.
The former will allow teachers to gauge students’ existing knowledge about the topic, while the latter will allow them to check whether they have understood whatever has been taught.
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Multimedia Assignments
Writing pages and pages of notes and memorising them thoroughly, and writing relevant answers in response to the questions is an outdated practice. In fact, rote memorisation is a byproduct of an exam-centric education system.
Fortunately, institutes can alter the long followed mechanism through the online examination, which allows students to go beyond simply ticking the correct answers in MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions).
For example, they can use video clips or documentaries in the classroom and ask related questions afterwards. In effect, it will allow teachers to test students’ observation, listening skills and memory.
Likewise, podcasts are an effective source for listening to interviews on various topics and gaining insight and valuable information. Also, assignments are an important part of exams, so learners can use multimedia to prepare their projects, enabling them to explore and improve their problem-solving skills.
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Self-assessment
‘’No one knows us better than our own selves’’ is a quote that finds its relevance in self-assessment, which is a useful method of determining individual issues. Teachers can use the online exam or evaluation tools to create questionnaires and share them with the students.
The questionnaire can include questions such as:
- What was the most interesting that you learned this week?
- What subject area is still a bit unclear?
- What is the difference between last week’s and this week’s learning?
- Which chapters are very difficult to understand?
- Will you be able to explain any topic taught last day?
Moreover, self-assessments allow students to reflect on their thoughts and provide accurate responses, helping to highlight specific facts. Consequently, teachers can check the answers and prepare appropriate learning plans accordingly.
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Gamification
Irrespective of age, students love games because it is fun and entertaining, so integrating them into the assessment format helps to reduce the pressure. Besides exams, anxiety and stress are interrelated, making it seem a more intimidating prospect.
Meanwhile, digital assessment tools allow teachers to transform questionnaires into gamified content. For instance, quick impromptu quizzes to test student knowledge or awarding badges on completing a task or assignment.
On the other hand, certain applications allow learners to compete with each other in a task and progress accordingly in a leaderboard. In effect, gamification in education helps teachers to increase classroom engagement and motivate students.
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AI-powered Analytical Reports
How long did it take for students to complete the online test? Which students participated more frequently in the classroom activities? Who did not show much interest in the class? These are the kind of questions that teachers can find an answer to through digital assessment.
As a matter of fact, digital assessment tools use AI (Artificial Intelligence), which generates in-depth analytical reports. In addition, these reports highlight the key areas of student performance, such as:
- The number of students who participated in the classroom activities
- Amount of time taken to complete an assignment.
- Students who have been struggling in specific subject areas.
- Weekly and monthly-wise progress reports of individual students.
Finally, these AI-powered analytical reports help teachers to make informed decisions and help to improve their instructional methodologies.
Final Word,
A Digital Evaluation tool is the need of the hour and an essential medium that institutes can leverage to enhance teaching and learning habits. Plus, it helps implement tests as part of regular classes, allowing them to determine students’ comprehension levels and provide real-time feedback.
