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Blog Post #4 Technology-Integrated Assessment

toshiyasu
Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash

1. Introduction

Technology-integrated assessments are becoming more common in education, especially since online learning has become widespread. Automated quizzes, autograders, and instant feedback systems make assessment faster and more convenient. However, convenience doesn’t necessarily lead to better learning. In this reflection, I want to compare my experiences with digital assessments and more traditional forms of assessment.

2. Benefits of technology-integrated assessment

There are clear benefits to using technology for assessment:

  • Faster and efficient grading: teachers do not need to mark every answer manually, which reduces workload.
  • Immediate feedback: students can see their results right away and understand what they need to improve.
  • Better accessibility: assessments can be taken from home or from any location.

3. Drawbacks and risks

Despite these advantages, there are also concerns:

  • Quiz-based assessments can lead to shallow learning
  • AI tools make it possible to complete tasks without thinking

4. My personal experience

From my own experience, the format of assessment has a huge effect on how deeply I learn. For example, I generally prefer traditional paper-based exams. Even though they are stressful, they force me to focus, recall information from memory, and really understand the material. I feel that I learn more when I have to think carefully on my own rather than choose answers quickly on a screen.

I also took a computer science course where the assignment was not just writing code, but later meeting with a TA to explain the code in person. This format helped me learn much more than a normal online submission. Knowing that I would have to explain my decisions pushed me to fully understand how and why my code worked. It reminded me of the learning by teaching effect. When you teach or justify your ideas, your own understanding becomes deeper.

These experiences made me realize that the method of assessment can strongly influence the quality of learning. When assessments encourage explanation, reflection, and reasoning, I feel more engaged and more responsible for my learning.

5. What should be done

I have never taught a class or created and graded exams myself, so I can only imagine how much work that involves. If a teacher has many students, I understand why technology becomes necessary. Automated grading and online quizzes can reduce workload and make large classes manageable.

However, I also think there is a risk when technology-integrated assessments are used simply because they are fast and easy. If the goal becomes grading efficiently rather than supporting learning, students may not benefit from the assessment at all. In my opinion, technology should not replace the thinking process that is essential for learning.

I believe the starting point should be the question: What do we want students to learn from this assessment? Once the goal is clear, the technology can be chosen to support that goal. Sometimes a quiz might be the right choice, but sometimes other ways might lead to deeper understanding. Technology should not decide the method, but the learning objective should.

6. Conclusion

Technology can play a strong and positive role in assessment, but only when it reinforces learning rather than replaces it. If technology is used thoughtfully, it can support not only efficiency but also meaningful learning.

I used AI to check grammar and expressions, and improve wording, and to help organize pros and cons. However, all reflections, experiences, and opinions in this post are my own.