Self-Paced Expressions replacing Tests

[GeoKBehnke]

This posting is intended for the developers of the Self-Paced ActivExpressions feature - other comments are welcome.


We would like to use ActivExpressions in Self-Paced mode to replace the written test or quiz. There are 3 generalized testing scenarios:
- a weekly quiz with 10 to 15 questions
- unit test with 25 to 60 questions
- standardized placement test with 75 to 200 questions

In all testing scenarios, our desire is to quickly access the progress of students and adjust. Teachers want more time to analyze the results rather than creating the results (i.e. grading tests), parents want to see the results for their child, and administrators want access to aggregated results within the school and the district (and most of the district does not use Promethean).

Here is a summary of our requirements - some are currently met and some are not (missing functionality is indicated by "[missing]" ).

The students using the Expression devices need the ability to:
- see question's text and answer that question
- skip questions they may be unsure of [missing]
- go to a specific question number - backward or forward [missing]
- see any previously sent answer [missing]
- optionally change a previous answer

The teachers need the ability to:
- view results for a single question
- both during & after voting session
- for one student & for all students
- view a summary of the results for all questions [poor]
- both during & after voting session
- for one student & for all students
- print and/or save results [unsure]
- for a single student's answers
- for the entire class
- indicate multiple correct answers [missing]
- before voting session
- after voting session
- for a specific student
- export results to CSV file (or Excel) [missing]

When using Expresspoll or prepared questions, the format of results currently exported to Excel is very nice - it would be desireable for "self-paced" used the same format. The missing "export of results" is a show-stopper for us using Self-Paced.

george

[montgomeryheath]

I agree with everything in the previous comment. I've had the activexpressions since last spring. I see a ton of potential with the devices, but the capabilities of activinspire are quite lacking compared to other software that comes packaged with student response devices.




no export to excel in self paced mode??? should be easy to do since it can already export from polling mode
buggy behavior - 20 question quiz, one student was notified after 16 questions that she had no more questions.
activinspire freezing and locking when using polls in desktop annotation mode



I really expected a more polished product for the cost involved.

[tcampbell]

Fully agree!

[dcsherwood]

I agree with all of the above. I have one additional comment about it...will VR version be able to do self-paced expression capability as well? I love the idea of self-paced expression replacing PAPER!!! more environmentally friendly, but there a number of features that we HAVE to have for logistics and record keeping.

Thank y'all so much for all the advancements that have been coming!!! Keep them coming ;)

Dawn

[dmcmath]

The missing "export of results" is a show-stopper for us using Self-Paced.




I agree. The export results for the self-paced questions would be a HUGE improvement.

[markrobinson]

Promethean are aware of the requirements you are stating and are working hard on relevant enhancements to offer more in the standard package.

Have people looked at Expression integrations like Learning Stations Action Test Builder and ATI's Galileo?

These systems handle enterprise assessment, reporting and analysis via the Promethean devices and will continue to evolve to eliminate more of the paper and scanning complexities that assessment can involve.

For example, seeing the ATI system get the assessment data directly from the classroom and onto the district servers AND watching the teacher see LIVE personalised analysis on an iPhone was impressive, The previous week it would have involved masses of paper, hours of scanning and waiting days for the actionable feedback!

That said - once you make Assessment instantaneous and the feedback from individuals actionable WITHIN the lesson and the "teachable moment" you do have to ask is the purpose/nature of the assessment itself being redefined? "Old things, Old way" or "New things, New ways?...