Video+Reflections

Marzano Keynote

Marzano uses a researched based approach to describe the effects of technology on student achievement. In this keynote speech he focused on three areas: the use of interactive white boards, formative assessment and record keeping, and teacher feedback and interaction. The data gathered from the use of interactive white boards on student achievement showed a seventeen point percentile gain. The percentile gain continued to increase on other variables such as the length of time the teacher has taught in the classroom, the length of time (in months) the use of technology has been in that classroom, if technology is used 75% of the class time, and the teacher’s level of confidence in using the technology. When all of these variables are provided, the percentile gain in student achievement rose 30 points. In order for students to achieve higher, the teacher must also focus on the content and not the bells and whistles of the technology. The teacher must use all of the other research based studies proven to improve student achievement such as wait time and checking for understanding along with the interactive white board. The use of technology will not improve student achievement if a teacher is not trained on the technology. I believe this is where many school systems can fall short. Teachers also need time to “play” with their technology in order to gain the confidence that Marzano discussed in his speech. Marzano also discussed formative assessment and record keeping. Assessment must be used as an instructional tool. Teachers must study much data over time to be able to assess the student’s true score. Data analysis is most effective if one analyzes the whole class or school rather than individual students. This was a surprising statement. Teachers must learn to use technology to help assess students. By creating more specific categories in our JMC grading program and using all of the grading program’s capabilities, we could graph and track students more effectively. Training on the grading system and time to “play” with it would increase teacher confidence with the program. Allowing time for this would increase the amount of assessment options provided by the JMC grading program to better allow students to track their own learning. I find Marzano’s research interesting. I enjoy discussing the numbers he provides, and I trust in the data points. I have taken other classes focused on Marzano’s teaching strategies. I knew that technology wouldn’t increase achievement without proper training, but I found that the evidence that the longer the teacher has taught, the more months the technology has been used in the classroom, and teacher confidence increased student achievement 30 percentile points was amazing and encouraging.