6 ways to bolster digital assessments with professional development

February 6, 2024, 15:35 , 15:35

Three professional educators smiling while looking at a laptop computer

The steady integration of technology in the classroom has ushered in a proliferation of digital assessments, which offer immense promise to reduce educator workloads and give them better insight into their students’ unique learning needs. Yet for all the ease they provide, digital assessments shouldn’t be deployed as a plug-and-play solution, at least initially. Without proper preparation, you run the risk of yielding inaccurate results, technical difficulties and even testing irregularities.

Districts considering digital assessments should realize that the outcomes will only be as strong as the efforts they invest in professional development for the educators using them. Comprehensive training should cover big-picture issues, such as how to choose the most relevant assessment, work as a team, and appropriately analyze and apply the insights gleaned. It also should include logistical components, like standardizing administration, navigating the online testing platform, troubleshooting issues, utilizing accessibility features and upholding security protocols.

What makes a robust digital assessment professional development program?

Here’s what schools and districts need to know about supporting educators with professional development so they can make the most of these critical tools.

Understand the “why” behind assessments

Given the breadth and depth of available assessments, choosing the right resource starts by determining which outcomes you want to achieve. That means understanding the various assessments in your library and how each will help reach a different goal. For example, you may be aiming to assist students displaying reading difficulties, identify changes in behavioural and emotional functioning or help those exhibiting signs of depression. A universal screening policy can help ensure the assessments you’re prioritizing match the needs of the student population you serve.

Analyze results accurately

Assessments work best when the data they generate is used to inform future lessons and adjust teaching practices as necessary. By using the assessment data to identify concepts that require additional reinforcement or recognize patterns among groups of students, educators can tailor instructional approaches to more effectively meet the diverse needs of their students – both by determining appropriate interventions and continuing to monitor performance over time.

Foster a team approach

Assessments are most effective when they include team collaboration, involving general educators, special educators, reading specialties, educational diagnosticians, speech-language pathologists, school psychologists and others as needed. By bringing together diverse perspectives, you can tap their collective expertise to make more informed decisions about the holistic support each student needs.

Standardize assessment administration

One of the benefits of online assessments is their consistency: questions are worded the same way each time and every student has the same amount of time to complete their work. That benefit is only attainable when the educators giving the assessment know how to administer it – from managing the technology components to giving clear instruction to all students. Training can help. For example, educators should be offered pointers on how to verify that the technology is working correctly before each session and that they have enough devices for all students, as well as suggestions for troubleshooting common technical issues.

Adopt sufficient cybersecurity safeguards

Schools must commit to protecting data privacy and should deploy secure protocols for technology use, including password restrictions. However, educators must also prioritize ease of use when it comes to sharing assessment results and other details of students’ learning progress with their caregivers. Schools and districts should have a plan in place for sharing that information that underscores you are respecting the confidentiality of sensitive student data while encouraging an ongoing dialogue about learning progress between educators and caregivers.

Supportive professional development paves the way for assessment success

As digital assessment tools become more prevalent as an equitable way to evaluate student progress, proper training is crucial to ensure educators use them to their full potential. Our digital assessment solutions such as the Digital Assessment Library, include built-in training and additional paid training options to optimize adoption and usage in your district. Whether you’re interested in training for small groups or district-wide, Pearson can help you identify the resources you need. Find out more here or contact your Pearson assessment consultant.