System and method for real-time observation assessment

• US 8,997,004 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amplify Education Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Amplify Education Incorporated
• Inventors: Berger, Lawrence Jason, Gunn, Gregory M., Stewart, John D., Gunn, Kenneth M., Lynn, Elizabeth, Adams, Nicole M., Markovits, Anouk, Boyd, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault, Steven B
• Application Number:
  US14/157,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20140134592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 715/702, 715/709, 715/751, 715/776, 434/167, 434/178, 434/362
• US Class Current: 715/750
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

Techniques for real-time observation assessment are provided. The techniques, which are designed for educators, take advantage of handheld computers, desktop/laptop computers and Internet access in order to reduce the paperwork associated with conventional educational assessments. An array of instructional assessment applications are designed to run on handheld computers. The instructional assessment applications may be based on existing and widely used paper methodologies. A common Web-based platform for assessment application distribution, selection, download, data management and reporting is also provided. Users can then periodically synchronize instructional data (assessments, diagnostic results, notes and/or schedules) to the Web site. At the Web site, browser-based reports and analysis can be viewed, administered and shared via electronic mail.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a text area on a device, the text area being configured to display at least a portion of an assessment text and to receive a selection of a portion of the assessment text;

receiving, from an assessor, a selection of a portion of the assessment text displayed in the text area, the selected portion being associated with at least one behavior of a student, the at least one behavior being observed by the assessor while assessing the student'"'"'s reading of the selected portion of the assessment text;

displaying, on the device, multiple selectable controls that correspond to different behaviors, the behaviors including the at least one behavior;

receiving, from the assessor, a selection of at least one of the multiple selectable controls, the selected control corresponding to the at least one behavior;

associating the at least one behavior with the selected portion of the assessment text; and

displaying, on the device, the selected portion of the assessment text together with an indication of the at least one behavior.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a portable computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple selectable controls comprise buttons.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the text area, the multiple selectable controls, and the selected portion of the assessment text together with the indication of the at least one behavior are simultaneously displayed on a display of the device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the at least one behavior with the selected portion of the assessment text is in response to receiving, from the assessor, the selection of at least one of the multiple selectable controls, the selected control corresponding to the at least one behavior.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a score based on the selected portion of the assessment text and the at least one behavior.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing assessment data, in a memory module of the device, that associates the selected portion of the assessment text and the at least one behavior.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the assessor, annotation text related to the at least one behavior observed by the assessor while assessing the student'"'"'s reading of the selected portion of the assessment text;

associating the annotation text with the selected portion of the assessment text; and

displaying, on the device, the selected portion of the assessment text together with the annotation text and the indication of the at least one behavior.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the annotation text represents text that is handwritten by the assessor.

10. A system comprising:

one or more computers; and

one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising;

displaying a text area on a device, the text area being configured to display at least a portion of an assessment text and to receive a selection of a portion of the assessment text;

receiving, from an assessor, a selection of a portion of the assessment text displayed in the text area, the selected portion being associated with at least one behavior of a student, the at least one behavior being observed by the assessor while assessing the student'"'"'s reading of the selected portion of the assessment text;

displaying, on the device, multiple selectable controls that correspond to different behaviors, the behaviors including the at least one behavior;

receiving, from the assessor, a selection of at least one of the multiple selectable controls, the selected control corresponding to the at least one behavior;

associating the at least one behavior with the selected portion of the assessment text; and

displaying, on the device, the selected portion of the assessment text together with an indication of the at least one behavior.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the device comprises a portable computing device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the multiple selectable controls comprise buttons.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the text area, the multiple selectable controls, and the selected portion of the assessment text together with the indication of the at least one behavior are simultaneously displayed on a display of the device.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein associating the at least one behavior with the selected portion of the assessment text is in response to receiving, from the assessor, the selection of at least one of the multiple selectable controls, the selected control corresponding to the at least one behavior.

15. The system of claim 10, the instructions further comprising calculating a score based on the selected portion of the assessment text and the at least one behavior.

16. The system of claim 10, the instructions further comprising storing assessment data, in a memory module of the device, that associates the selected portion of the assessment text and the at least one behavior.

17. The system of claim 10, the instructions further comprising:

receiving, from the assessor, annotation text related to the at least one behavior observed by the assessor while assessing the student'"'"'s reading of the selected portion of the assessment text;

associating the annotation text with the selected portion of the assessment text; and

displaying, on the device, the selected portion of the assessment text together with the annotation text and the indication of the at least one behavior.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the annotation text represents text that is handwritten by the assessor.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

displaying a text area on a device, the text area being configured to display at least a portion of an assessment text and to receive a selection of a portion of the assessment text;

receiving, from an assessor, a selection of a portion of the assessment text displayed in the text area, the selected portion being associated with at least one behavior of a student, the at least one behavior being observed by the assessor while assessing the student'"'"'s reading of the selected portion of the assessment text;

displaying, on the device, multiple selectable controls that correspond to different behaviors, the behaviors including the at least one behavior;

receiving, from the assessor, a selection of at least one of the multiple selectable controls, the selected control corresponding to the at least one behavior;

associating the at least one behavior with the selected portion of the assessment text; and

displaying, on the device, the selected portion of the assessment text together with an indication of the at least one behavior.

20. The medium of claim 19, the instructions further comprising:

receiving, from the assessor, annotation text related to the at least one behavior observed by the assessor while assessing the student'"'"'s reading of the selected portion of the assessment text;

associating the annotation text with the selected portion of the assessment text; and

displaying, on the device, the selected portion of the assessment text together with the annotation text and the indication of the at least one behavior.