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High-Tech Program
Increases Technology Schools' Efficiency, Productivity
Mary Ann Scott
Workforce Development Cabinet
Department for Technical Education (DTE) teachers are learning
a new technology designed to help them electronically receive
instantaneous scores on tests or feedback on student comprehension.
It also allows students' responses to remain anonymous to all
but the instructor. Known as the Classroom Performance System
(CPS), the technology allows students to answer questions using
a hand-held keypad, that performs much as a television remote,
and permits teachers to import curriculum into their computers
and review real-time student performance.
Students each use a keypad to enter answers to test reviews, formal
tests, quizzes and classroom discussions.
 As
students punch in answers during a test review, for example, teachers
immediately see each student's response on a monitor and can gauge
each student's comprehension level, said Mary Stratton, DTE's
deputy commissioner. Stratton was instrumental in obtaining the
CPS program for DTE's 53 schools, known as area technology centers.
"It is crucial to assess the progress of the class and immediately
identify those students that need additional assistance without
singling them out," said Stratton.
CPS streamlines other teacher tasks, such as taking attendance
and grading tests and homework in a matter of seconds, thus "allowing
teachers to emphasize less time on paperwork and more time on
teaching," said Stratton.
DTE
Commissioner Emil Jezik said that CPS is one way his department
keeps the centers up to speed with the latest teaching methods.
"We believe this technology will provide our instructors
with an array of options in teaching and assessing students, as
well as creating an interactive and attention-getting environment
for the student," said Jezik.
The system was introduced to the area technology center principals
and teachers this past summer. Teachers are attending CPS training
this fall and will begin to integrate it into their classrooms.
DTE's
area technology centers are secondary schools that offer hands-on
training in such fields as health and human services, business,
construction, manufacturing, automotive and information technologies.
DTE is a Cabinet for Workforce Development agency.
Learn
more about the department and the cabinet at
http://www.workforce.ky.gov.
The Cabinet for Workforce Development connects Kentucky to employment,
workforce information, education and training.
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