Daisy Arabella

Chaun Tinney

Strayer university

Dr. Clinton Gortney

August 9, 2018

Question 1

Columbia district schools offer a safe and learning environment, which is positive as from preschool via 12th-grade students. The staff is professional in their given field in the determination of the student’s proficiency in assessing the effectiveness and viability of the learning environment. Proficiency in school should be assessed via performance standards and expectations that are associated with acquired knowledge, concepts, and practices. Educational assessments are the core concepts that should be learned by the students and be able to acquire transferable skills into the world market or in their career.

The goals of proficiency were to:

· To determine the students level of proficiency with reference to the current understanding of these concepts

· Supporting the vision of how learners should be taught and examined in their tests.

· Establish a connection between the knowledge of the students in procedures for the subjects as most assessments necessitates the application of the facts and procedures via the subject’s practices of argumentation, scientific reasoning as well as argumentation.

· Use of assessment tools that are geared into assisting the educators to modify their methodologies or approaches used in education in order to achieve the assessment tools requirements.

The current prevailing among the institutions in the Columbia district as biased as they only test on a few topics in a particular subject. It is important to note that assessment should be designed in such a manner that it tests the proficiency of learners in each particular subject. The proficiency is essential as in the modern world most of the employees are using the proficiency tests examines that examines the students’ acquisition of knowledge and transferable skills that are applicable in the specialized area. Performance-based learning entails strategies that are vital in the acquisition of skills and knowledge and its application via the tasks performance which is significant and engaging to the learners. It also involves a better approach to the delivery of the designed curriculum. Through this process, the students are able to learn that assignment have become more dependable and significant to the student.

Question 2

There are numerous changes in the District of Columbia Schools in relation to the proficiency of the learners. The current assessment tools in the schools are aligned to [particular elements or concepts in the curriculum which is a disadvantage to some of the students. There is the need for the educators or instructional teachers to develop more comprehensive assessment tools that ensure that the level of the student's proficiency is tested via an effective and viable methodology.

The second reason is that there is dire need to change the assessment tools structure that is in line with the goals in order to ensure that the students undergo the best assessment methodology that is without biases in testing their level of proficiency. The assessment should be comprehensive and implemented adequately in order to attain the best outcome for every student. This should be enacted in all the institutions as a student will be assured that they possess the knowledge and skills that are essential in the job market, as well as the employers, will be assured that the recruitment process will be done without any biases in order to get the employee who is best suited for the tasks at hand.

The third reason in accordance to survey data in the District of Columbia schools the level of proficient in academics is 25 percent (Niche, 2018). This denotes the students scored percentage in the level of proficiency in reading, language or math assessment test. Thus the government should fund the schools to develop a better assessment tool that will gauge the student's knowledge and skills in all areas as compared to the specific area that may reveal the wrong feedback of the student's level of proficiency.

The topic should entail alternative assessment rather than the traditional concepts. Formerly the tests encompass generic terms in the assessment that does not reveal the actual proficiency level of the student. Besides, they should develop a more comprehensive assessment tool that best captures the learner proficiency or mastery in the certain subject. This would ensure that the K-12 graders will be more than prepared for the tertiary institutions as well as the job market. This would imply that the designed teats will encompass the ability of the learner in using or applying the concepts that are learned in the former grade and use them in solving problems in the current world issues or challenges as well as in the other grade levels (Serdyukov, 2017).

Question 3.

Technology in the 21st century is essential for the students in acquisitions for the students to learn core concepts and subjects and their applicable skills. Technology should empower the students in accomplishing their knowledge task via the use of processing and creation of information which is applicable in numerous workplaces as well as the community. It is vital that the students should utilize the technology is gaining the required skills in order to fully participate in the global economy. It should be a tool for the educator to design a curriculum that is performance-based and increase the student’s proficiency level which will enable the student to acquire skills that will lead to solving problems in their workplaces easier and effective (Benjamin, 2013).

The District of Columbia should source for funds that will enable them to purchase laptops in order to assist the students in preparation of the modern or prevailing challenges. Most institutions are participating in technology immersion pilot (TIP) where the educators, as well as the student, are using laptops which give them access to additional, effective and reliable resources that are beyond the walls of the classroom and give the student ability to effectively communicate, solve problems, access and integrate information in their subject areas. The use of laptops will result in an increase in the learning of the students and their engagement, involvement of the parent will also be increased as well as a decrease in discipline issues.

The second strategy will be the use of video conferencing which supports the core subject in the modern age. Students in the high schools especially those interested in journalist can work together through video conferencing in building their literacy skills, collaboration and communication skills, innovation and creativity skills and proficiency in their core subjects, for instance, geography and language arts. This is essential as the teacher can also use this method is analyzing or designing the best teaching approach for the schools within the Columbia district. It is more effective and saves times (Diallo,2014).

The last strategy is by competing and collaborating in order to build the students skills and knowledge. For instance, the schools embrace the Think Quest Competition where the student will utilize technology in learning the core subjects and enhance proficiency in learning and innovating skills, life and career skills among others. It is thus important that the institutions should embrace these technological skills with the objective of improving the proficiency level of the students within the District.

References