Taking Advantage of Technologies: Using a Multi-platform Tool for Formative Assessment in English Language Classes
Taking Advantage of Technologies: Using a Multi-platform Tool for Formative Assessment in English Language Classes

Summary/Abstract: We live in an era of advanced technology, where every part of our daily lives is by some means related to science. Rapid technological advancement is also clearly revolutionizing the environment in which education takes place. Not only common educational stages as subdivisions of formal learning but also universities are considered to be technologically advanced places predominantly due to the by now common skills relevant to using services accessible via a computer. In conjunction with the rapid development of technology, the shifts in formative assessment methods are also observable. Currently, it is less challenging for teachers to administer a test, instantly evaluate the results and analyze gain scores than ever before. Innovative technology-based formative assessment constitutes a component of what characterizes any modern classroom environment. It provides essential information about what students have understood and what they do find problematic. This means the assessments are also considered valuable guides in helping students to improve their performance. By the same token, teachers can use them to determine if any further instructions are necessary. One of the presently emerging technologies is Socrative, an interactive, real-time, multi-platform tool marketed as a free and user-friendly online system that empowers students to answer questions posed by instructors using any device connected to the Internet. Even though it is obvious that teachers recognize the use of multi-platform assessment tools as highly efficient, there is still necessary to point out that attention should similarly be directed at students’ perceptions. This paper presents the results of a study the aim of which was the qualitative investigation of students’ perceptions of using Socrative in a university environment.

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