Three Benefits of Grading Using 1:1 Technology (Part II)

For a century, arguably the biggest change to education was the switch from the chalk board to the white board. Now, classrooms around the country have moved to individual devices for students. With the classroom learning environment changing so rapidly, it is important to examine the benefits of these changes. In my previous post I hinted at three benefits of providing feedback and grading using one-to-one technology. These benefits included Efficiency in Teaching and Learning, Positive Teacher-Student Relationships, and Empowerment of Students.

   1. Efficiency in Teaching and Learning:

                  The ability for teachers to easily and quickly access and provide feedback allows for quick interaction with students, and therefore the ability to create a positive teacher-student relationship. Additionally, through grading and providing feedback using one-to-one technology teachers are able to gather and analyze student data quickly. This ability to provide grades and feedback to students quickly allows for immediacy in teacher-student interaction as well which allows for consistent teacher-student interactions and a teacher-

student relationship in the classroom. Within PLCs, teachers are able to collect feedback and data digitally, review it as a team, and have an understanding as a team where students are academically, with a digital footprint of it. This helps teachers create a back-and-forth relationship with students. Through one-to-one technology, students have the ability to see what they got wrong faster than ever before, and teachers can evaluate along with the students during the class period.

  2. Positive Teacher-Student Relationships

                  When providing feedback using one-to-one technology, student engagement and the back-and-forth relationship between the teacher and student increases. For example, when receiving feedback through one-to-one technology and one-to-one interaction teachers are able to have students make changes in real time and submit changes, rather than a sheet of paper with comments in red ink that many times gets thrown in the garbage. The back and forth, one-to-one interaction creates an engaging learning environment and builds a relationship with the student.

3. Empowerment of Students                 

Finally, one-to-one technology provides an avenue for students who may not have

had the courage to speak to a teacher but are willing to leave a comment on Google Classroom. This one-to-one feedback has the potential to be more personal, and the private comments can allow nervous students to get their thoughts out, where

they normally would not in front of the entire class.  Some teachers even find students more comfortable through one-to-one technology. They find they have more full participation and conversation from the ‘quiet’ kids. This builds trust in the classroom learning environment.

                  So before we go hating too much on those devices, let’s make sure we take a look at, and implement the positives of them. Most importantly, make sure to sit down for a minute today, and sip on a cup of coffee. You more than earned it.

-Magee