Technology in Computerized Classrooms & Testing: Friend or Foe? Joann Segovia Rhonda Ficek

Agenda SurveyE-Friend / E-Foe Objectives Millennial Learners Maintaining Integrity: Wireless Classrooms Maintaining Integrity: Computerized Testing

Survey: Is technology highly integrated in your course? 1= Yes 5= No Do you frequently use electronic communication with your students?   Chat room  Discussion board  Postings on web page 1=Yes 5=No

Survey: What types of technology do you use? Computerized testing during class time 1= Yes 2=No Computerized testing online1= Yes 2=No Personal response system1= Yes 2=No Website1= Yes 2=No Interactive website1= Yes 2=No Electronic texts1= Yes 2=No Electronic games1= Yes 2=No

Survey Do you use software for computer classroom management? (i.e Silicon Chalk) 1= Yes 2=No

Survey: What type of Instructional Management System do you use? 1)Blackboard 2)WebCT 3)D2l 4)Other system 5)None

Survey: Do you think your students use publisher websites? 1= Yes 2=No Do you think your students have used technology inappropriately during an exam? 1= Yes 2=No Do you have an academic honor code that students must sign? 1= Yes 2=No

Survey: What is your greatest challenge? 1 Time 2 Funding 3 Training 4 Technical support 5 Controlling “misuse” 6 Lack of recognition or rewards 7 Other Agenda

“E-Friend”  Assists student learning  Motivates student learning  Dynamic, up-to-date instructional content  Prompt feedback  Increases efficiency  Accommodates multiple learning styles

Did you know? What percentage of students are visual learners? –0-25% –26-50% –51-75% –76-100%

“E-Foe”  Students misuse technology  Effects on IQ, Attention Span?Effects on IQ, Attention Span  Writing Skills? Acronyms?Acronyms  Digital Divide  Poor performance on computerized tests?

Did you know?  Cell phones: –publisher websites’ text material –Text messaging (avg rate: 40 chars/min) –Pictures of test screens  Calculators: –Text messaging –Programmable calculators: loading notes /  Test banks / Term papers for sale on the Internet Agenda

Did you know? “Workers distracted by phone calls, s and text messages suffer a greater loss of IQ than a person smoking marijuana, a British study shows.” …the IQ of those who tried to juggle messages and work fell by 10 points -- the equivalent to missing a whole night's sleep and more than double the 4-point fall seen after smoking marijuana.

Objectives  Explain key characteristics of millennial learners and their “best” learning strategies  Provide best practices for maintaining integrity –computerized testing environments –wireless classrooms Agenda

Millennial Learners

Would You Repeat That Please???

You’re Going to Do What???

I’m not interested in textbooks – I’ll keep up on topics MY way????

The Millennial Learner: Characteristics

The Millennial Learner: Learning preferences  Teamwork  Experiential activities  Structure  Use of technology

The Millennial Learner’s Activities  and instant messaging  Blogging, Podcasting  High-technology gadgets  “Multiprocessing” and multitasking  Prefer teamwork, group projects, service learning, community service  Entertainment and excitement

The Millennial: Visions for Learning Environments  Digital devices (Small, voice-activated)  High speed Internet access  Intelligent tutor/helper with homework Source: Visions 2020 at

The Millennial: Visions for Learning Environments Intensive use of technology  games  virtual world experiences  online classes  computer or online assignments  digital teachers  e-books, personalized learning Source: Visions 2020 at

Millennials’ Expectations: Teachers, Learning Environments  Expect academic staff to be comfortable and use wide range of technologies  Flexible learning environments / creative activities Agenda

Best practices for computerized testing environments NCTA Professional Standards and Guidelines for Post-Secondary Test Centers: Standards  Policy  Contractual agreements  Staffing  Institutional representation and coordination  Physical environment See:

Best practices for computerized testing environments NCTA Professional Standards and Guidelines for Post- Secondary Test Centers: Guidelines  Staffing and room environment  Scheduling and admission processes  Responsibilities of proctor  Security issues  Reviewing exams See:

Tips for Securing Computerized Testing Environments  Prohibit cell phones, PDAs in the room  Randomize selection of questions on tests  Randomize order of choices in MC questions  Disable printing during testing

Tips for Securing Computerized Testing Environments  Release only total score rather than questions / student responses / correct answers  Monitor from a point where screens are visible  Rules in place beforehand – no windows open except for test, leave room after test is completed  Don’t allow students to leave before they submit test

MSUM’s Proctored Testing Experiment  Pilot Spring 2005  Additional Funding for  Targets large classes –Current labs have < 30 computers –Randomized question sets –Testing over a period of days

Students’ Innovative Ways to Use Technology  Use of electronic devices during class or exam –Cell phones, PDAs, laptops, programmable calculators  Specific examples of inappropriate uses and any solutions to improve environment? “Wired for Cheating” ( for Cheating Agenda

Managing Computerized Classrooms: Formative Assessment Use Chat to take attendance while asking an opening question Quick writes Quick writes (

Managing Computerized Classrooms  Monitors off at times  Creating active learning through technology: Horizon Wimba

Managing Computerized Classrooms: Formative Assessment Web-Based Self-Assessment Tools  Study Mate Demo e.shtmlDemo  Quandary Demo tutorials_examples.phpDemo Agenda

Conclusion New Learners New technologies: Best of both worlds?

Contact Information  Rhonda Ficek, Director of Instructional Technology, MSU Moorhead  Joann Segovia, Accounting Professor, MSU Moorhead