iCademy Middle East's Innovative Assessment Model Gets Top Marks For Student Appraisal

iCademy’s assessments include quizzes, tests and assignments within each online course that students complete or submit directly within the learning management system
 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 26 November 2019:   iCademy Middle East has touted its ground-breaking assessment model as an essential tool in improving long-term student performance.

The NEASC-accredited American Online School has built frequent assessments into its online curriculum, including computer-scored quizzes, interactive learning games, and module exams.

Scholars at the academy cite studies asserting that frequent and innovative assessments models should replace the ‘big test’ at the end of a semester. They say a greater frequency of quality developmental assessment enables teachers to recognize when a student requires intervention and if teaching methods should be adjusted based on individual strengths and needs.

Diane Claver, Head of School at iCademy Middle East, said: “When it comes to assessment, we’re firm believers in less but more often. To us the one-off high-stakes test at the end of a semester puts unnecessary pressure on students and isn’t always a fair reflection of their performance over the entire period.

“Our highly-innovative assessment model provides almost constant evaluation of students. This allows us to make evidence-based decisions on when students require extra guidance and how our teaching practices can be adapted to maximize their potential.”

iCademy’s assessments include quizzes, tests and assignments within each online course that students complete or submit directly within the learning management system. Teachers are able to track student progress and attainment multiple times per week, per course through the use of computer-scored quizzes, comprehensive module exams, plus multiple teacher-graded assignments submitted through an online drop box.

A variety of assessment tools are used throughout the year, enabling teachers to provide detailed feedback and advice to students via written comments or during Live Teaching or individual sessions. Teachers are also able to monitor learning in real time via Big Blue Button, a live teaching whiteboard platform.

Live Teaching sessions cover key aspects of the course and enhance lessons available to students online and in materials. Teachers encourage student participation and interactivity during sessions with tools including chat, whiteboard, emoticons, microphone and video, as well as live demonstrations. Assessment occurs through presentations, quizzes, open questions, individual or group written answers, multiple choice questions and interactive learning games.

Another assessment tool used at iCademy Middle East is Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) standardized testing. MAP tests are based on a continuum of skills in Mathematics, Reading and Science from low to high skill levels. The MAP assessments help teachers identify the instructional level of the student and provide context for determining where each student is performing in relation to school and national norms. MAP reports allow teachers to better target instruction based on students’ strengths and needs.

“Our objective at iCademy is to truly maximize the potential of our students, and we see frequent assessment as a key tool in achieving that goal,” said Claver. “We’re very proud of the level of innovation we have built into our assessment model and are delighted with the strong feedback we’re receiving from students.”

iCademy provides a US-based online-applied curriculum to youngsters attending KG through to Grade 12, with attention also paid to helping students who may have struggled or have outgrown a mainstream education environment to achieve their full potential.

iCademy students have been accepted to universities the USA, UK, Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, India, and Australia. As a fully NEASC accredited American Online School, iCademy Middle East provides major benefits for students applying to university as a regular applicant, not as a home-schooled student.

UK universities require students take Advanced Placement courses in grades 11 or 12, which are available from iCademy Middle East, while US colleges also weigh additional student work, like essays, student leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities or volunteer work when accepting students.