I realized many challenges during my teaching experience to use a variety of forms of assessment. In my opinion, the importance of studying technology implementation is compulsory to memorization of configuration steps, industry standards, and related tools. It is more important to me that my students understand the significance of lab practices, they should meet with industry-standard learning, hands-on practice and are able to analyze given scenario’s and digital materials and technology equipment for themselves. Future students will come to the information technology job market when skill requirement and opportunity is available to them almost constantly.

They do need to memorize hands-on practical to which they have demonstrated skills according to the industry requirement. My priority was, therefore, their ability to understand the steps and apply the required information that they have. I used various practical assignments as practical lab assessments frequently during the semester. Many of my students told me that they confidentially learn more in my lab introduction and hands-on lab session than they did in their theoretical class.

We did an automated test and produce individual student’s achievement summative assessment report for every practical unit. In class, we worked on developing IT Administration and implementation skills, such as structuring a network environment, choosing the best services such as active directory, designing organization structures and best possible security features and methods. By having different units of practical assignments, my students were able to improve their configuration and customization skills with practice labs as well as spend time focusing on specific skills set relating to an assignment with support of provided guided materials. (Step guide documents & video tutorials) Creating lab practical assignments is a better form of assessment than a test or quiz because it involves using the reach content rather than just repeating it.

For example, most of the quiz/test assignments are testing on theoretical knowledge but practical assessment guide to theoretical, analytical, and implementation outcomes which is more suitable to build higher confidence in my students about real-world scenarios.   

This opinion practical lab assignment demonstrated to me whether the students understood what the rights actually meant, rather than whether they could memorize the wording.

My classes also used online quizzes as a form of assessment. Using quizzes rather than a written test or assignment it’s interesting; especially to see which students were most successful. Some of the typical top-performing students did not actively participate in the class discussion and some of the students who struggle with writing assignments contributed well in the online quiz.

I asked my classes for a survey twice during the semester and was often praised for my forms of practical lab assessment. The students definitely noticed that having a lab, and quiz gave them a different kind of opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge at a deeper level and appreciated it.

I think that having a variety of assessments allowed different types of learners an opportunity for success and demonstrated a more thorough understanding of the content and skills they were learning.  Global Information Technology giant MICROSOFT imaging education team also focuses on practicing online labs and quiz type testing methods.

Related to my Microsoft Certified Trainer experience, I’m also more comfortable with practical lab assessment and quiz testing patterns are effective methods for IT knowledge assessment.     

Warm regards,

Jeeva Dissanayaka
ICT Tutor, MCT