Technology Center for Teaching and Learning
The Center, through its Technology Center for Teaching and Learning, develops and distributes easy to use, mobile student assessment and database systems designed to inform better teaching and learning in specific program areas. Center software, developed in collaboration with teachers, and school administrators, is cost effective and focuses not simply on data collection, but on identifying areas where additional student learning is needed. Because these assessment programs often suggest additional instructional approaches, they help guide and enhance teaching and learning. The data-gathering systems operate on essentially all web-enabled mobile devices, including laptops, tablets and smartphones. Data is stored on our secure, password protected servers where sophisticated reports turn data into information for analysis and instructional decision-making.
The Center’s programs include:
Preschool Assessment System This mobile observation-based Pre-K assessment system enables teachers to record the progress of young children across all domains of learning. The system automatically collects information that easily documents each student’s developmental progress and identifies learning areas where additional emphasis should be placed in early childhood lesson plans. The system includes a lesson planning tool, electronic portfolios and fun and engaging activities that can be sent home to further support student learning. More information at myelsonline.org
Early Literacy Assessment System Designed to evaluate literacy development of students in kindergarten through Grade 2, this research-based, normed assessment and software system quickly identify instructional needs in eleven specific learning areas. These include such developmental indicators as phonemic awareness, developmental spelling, vocabulary, fluency as well as listening and reading comprehension. Using these instruments, teachers can easily and quickly identify areas where the whole class as well as individual students will benefit from additional instructional supports.
K-2 Formative Instructional Tasks This instructional delivery and formative assessment system was developed for a multi-state assessment consortium in conjunction with Literacy and Mathematics content experts. It provides schools with 32 comprehensive lesson plans that also serve as a model for Common Core driven learning in the early grades.