[nobe-l] question about grading

Anita Adkins aadkins7 at verizon.net
Thu Mar 11 23:53:29 UTC 2010 

Hi everyone:

My head is totally crammed with it being midterms plus the fact that I am 
taking the Praxis on Saturday.  I do have an idea, but keep in mind that I 
might be overthinking now.  What if you had a sheet of paper numbered in 
Braille from 1 to 25 in column 1, 2 to 50, in column 2, and so on.  Maybe, 
only 3 columns would fit per page.  If you had access to a Braille embosser, 
you could easily Braille out 25 copies of these so that each student in your 
class would have 1.  Then, you could number each one in print to the left of 
the Braille number.  (I know how to write print numbers, and maybe you do 
too; if not, it is probably a good idea to learn if you are going in to 
teaching)  Or, you could pull out the dusty typewriter to get the letter 
where it needed to be placed (haha).  Then, you could use different things 
to represent different letters.  For example, a star might always mean the 
letter a, a sticker might always mean the letter b, a heart might always 
mean the letter c, etc.  These could stick to the answer sheet.  You could 
place actual pictures on the test instead of the letter.  It would only need 
to be an outline of a heart or a star, for example.  The student could read 
the question, and could then place the appropriate symbol for each question. 
For example, if he thought the answer to number 1 was see, he could put a 
heart beside 1.  Also, he wouldn't even see c on the test because it would 
be the outline of the heart he would see instead.  At first, I thought it 
might be nice to have the kids make the symbols to save money, and to reuse 
them.  However, you would need to keep the answer on the page to demonstrate 
the student had a certain answer in a certain way.  I realize there are some 
problems with this plan, such as the fact it would cost money to provide the 
symbols, but, it might spark some imagination in those of you who are more 
creative at solving these kinds of dilemma's than am I.  Also, maybe you 
could use a regular print blank sheet of paper along with a backing like is 
on those notepads you get from Walmart.  If you draw on them, I have noticed 
you can feel the image on the other side.  So if a student were just writing 
a 1, 2 or 3 word answer, you could give them each one of these backings to 
write on, which could be reused.  Then, you could grade them on your own. 
You could teach the students how to press hard enough and write big enough 
that their letters could actually be felt and comprehended.  I like this 
idea because it allows the teacher to also examine the handwriting of the 
student.  One of my kids at an afterschool program I worked with was making 
some letters upside down, and I was able to realize this.  I wasn't using 
the backing as mentioned above, but I was using a raised line drawing kit at 
that point.  However, it would be too expensive for you to have raised line 
drawing kits and enough paper for that many students, I should think.  For 
longer answers, students could use a computer, if available.  Or, I suppose 
a reader would be necessary.  Just some ideas.  But, my brain is nearly 
fried.  So I will say goodbye for now.  Anita

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hope Paulos" <hope.paulos at maine.edu>
To: "National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List" 
<nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] question about grading


That's exactly why i had the reader read me everything. I have a secondary
ed degree focusing in Spanish and rarely used multiple choice questions in
my student-teaching. Was teaching the intermediate levels (Spanish II and
III). When I have my own classroom, I'll mostly be using electronic versions
of tests.
Good suggestions!!
Hope and Beignet
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carolyn Brock" <mmebrock at spiritone.com>
To: "National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List"
<nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] question about grading


Hope,
   Remember that a test is an assessment not only of the students but of how
well the teacher taught the material or wrote the test.  Having someone else
grade the objective questions gives you no feedback on which questions are
being missed the most often.  If large numbers of students are getting the
same question wrong, then either that material needs to be reviewed, or else
the question was not written clearly.  If you do have someone else score
objective tests, you might at least have the person keep a tally of which
questions were missed.  (Note that this is not just a blindness issue, as
many sighted teachers use assistants or student aides to grade objective
tests.)
   I taught French and English for many years, and I tried to stay away from
true-false or multiple choice test questions, as they don't allow students
to show off what they do know.  They also encourage cheating.  Having an
assistant read you tests is time consuming but worth it in your knowledge of
students' capabilities.  Of course, Kathy has the best suggestion: have
students turn in electronic tests whenever possible.  Perhaps someday it
will be possible for all student work to be done electronically.
   Good luck!
Carolyn

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Kathy Nimmer" <goldendolphin17 at hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 2:14 AM
To: "blind teachers" <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] question about grading

>
> Hi there,
>
>  If there is tech to read handwriting, I'd love to know about it!  Smile! 
> I have someone grade multiple choice and other objective things via a key 
> I make ahead of time.  I have someone read me handwritten essay questions, 
> but I also schedule the writing lab when I can for essay tests so they can 
> print those answers from the computer or e-mail them.  Our lab space is 
> limited, so it doesn't always work, but having readers read handwritten 
> ansers is a royal pain, I'll admit.  It is slow and cumbersome, but it is 
> sometimes unavoidable.  I never have someone read me multiple choice and 
> such as it takes away time that is better spent elsewhere, and blind 
> teachers need every second of time they can get, in my opinion.  English 
> is definitely one of the most grading intensive subjects to be teaching.
>
> Kathy Nimmer: Teacher, Author, Motivational Speaker
> http://www.servicedogstories.com
> http://guidedogjourney.livejournal.com
> Even if the shadows of the valley hide your view,
> You still must believe in the mountains.
>
>
>
>
>
>> From: faith_manion at hotmail.com
>> To: nobe-l at nfbnet.org
>> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:37:19 -0600
>> Subject: [nobe-l] question about grading
>>
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I have about a year before I begin my student teaching and this semester 
>> I am teaching several lessons. With these lessons I am giving multiple 
>> choice tests and writing activities. In the past someone has just graded 
>> the multiple choice items for me and then read the writing responses out 
>> loud. Do you guys know any other way to grade papers when they are hand 
>> written and not typed? Is there any new type of technology out there that 
>> I am unaware of that will read handwriting?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Faith Manion
>>
>> > Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:43:16 -0600
>> > To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>> > From: RWest at nfb.org
>> > Subject: [nobe-l] NFB-NEWSLINER In Your Pocket Now Compatible
>> >
>> > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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>> > Chris Danielsen
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>> > National Federation of the Blind
>> > (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>> > (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>> > <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>> >
>> > Scott White
>> > Director, NFB-NEWSLINE®
>> > National Federation of the Blind
>> > (410) 659-9314, extension 2231
>> > <mailto:swhite at nfb.org>swhite at nfb.org
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
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>> > ###
>> >
>> >
>> > About the National Federation of the Blind
>> >
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>> > Sponsored Technology Programs
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>> > 200 East Wells Street
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>>
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