In today's world, technology seems to have entrenched itself in every aspect of life. While school systems may have been slower than industry to adopt new technology, many countries are using innovative techniques to improve how students learn.
For nearly a decade, New Zealand has been using technology to assess student performance. Beginning in 2000, theAssessment Tools for Teaching and Learning (asTTle) was launched to help teachers assess students more efficiently. The computer program lets teachers create customized tests in just a few minutes. Once the 40-minute assessments are completed and scored, the data are entered into asTTle and teachers can compare student performance, follow students' progression during their academic careers, and come to conclusions on how well students are responding to curricula.
The asTTle program is available in both English and Maori and allows educators to test students' abilities on a variety of topics, including reading, math, and writing. Another unique feature is the freedom teachers have to design the test. Teachers can determine how hard the test will be, what will be assessed, and what actions should be taken to improve the curriculum. The creators of the program feel that teacher control allows for better assessment and that a national, standardized assessment does not adequately measure individual students' performance. Teachers, who interact with the students on a regular basis, have a better feel for their students' learning needs.
Recently, an updated version of asTTle callede-asTTle is being implemented across New Zealand. In an effort to continuously upgrade the assessment system, this tool was released with a new, online capability. The new program takes all the resources from the asTTle and improves them. Teachers still develop assessments and follow student progression, but students can now take the tests online, the lengths of the tests are flexible, some questions can be automatically marked, and educators have access to reports and resources from around the country.
When designing the e-asTTle, the designers once again relied on the teachers' judgment and asked for their input. Educators suggested ideas that would help them better assess the students and looked for ways to improve the tests. With these improvements, they hope to make the learning environment more efficient for both educators and their students.
