Using InkSurvey with Pen-Enabled Mobile Devices for Real-Time Formative Assessment II. Indications of Effectiveness in Diverse Educational Environments

Abstract

InkSurvey is free, web-based software designed to facilitate the collection of real-time formative assessment. Using this tool, the instructor can embed formative assessment in the instruction process by posing an open-format question. Students equipped with pen-enabled mobile devices are then actively engaged in their learning as they use digital ink to draw, sketch, or graph their responses. When the instructor receives these responses instantaneously, it provides insights into student thinking and what the students do and do not know. Subsequent instruction can then repair and refine student understanding in a very timely manner.In a companion paper, we illustrate the wide applicability of this use of technology by reporting a series of seven vignettes featuring instructors of diverse subjects (physics, mathematics, chemical engineering, food science, and biology), with students using diverse pen-enabled mobile devices (tablet PCs, iPads, and Android 4.0 tablets/smartphones), in diverse educational environments (K-12, community college, publicly-funded engineering university, private university, and graduate school), in two countries (United States and Mexico). In this paper, each instructor shares some data, insights, and/or conclusions from their experiences that indicate the effectiveness of this pedagogical model in diverse educational environments.

Effects of formative assessment with technology on students’ meaningful learning in chemistry equilibrium concepts

“…Teachers can efficiently acquire formative evidence by utilizing technological platforms (Panero and Aldon, 2016). Kowalski et al (2015), for example, developed a formative assessment application that takes advantage of the tablet PC's handwriting skills to better capture what students do and do not know. Students in the experimental group demonstrated larger learning gains by using this instructional strategy than students in the control group who received conventional lectures.…”

Effects of technology-integrated formative assessment on students' conceptual and procedural knowledge in chemical equilibrium

“…Kowalski et al [32] conducted research on the effects of computer-assisted formative evaluation feedback on students' arithmetic learning. Two treatment groups and one control group were chosen at random for them.…”

The Impact of the Technology Used in Formative Assessment

“…For example, Lee, Feldman, and Beatty (2011) report that teachers have difficulties in understanding their students' thinking based on their answers when using clickers. On the other hand, Kowalski et al (2015) developed a formative assessment application that uses the handwriting capabilities of the Tablet PC to better capture what the students do and do not know. By using this solution, the students showed grater learning gains than a group following regular lectures.…”