Assessing Speaking with Technology

In a foreign language classroom such as Spanish, German, or French, giving feedback to students on their speaking skills is an important component. There are many tools that we can use to help assess students. So, our question this week focuses on what technology teachers use to assess speaking.

Alison Nelson @nosilaN  

I use Google voicemail, and voice record pro app. Kids submit VRP recordings to me through edmodo. Trying vocaroo this year.

We go to the language lab and I record the students' answers to questions.  After they are seated, I hand out two sets of questions which are similar levels, but an A set and a B set, so they can't copy what their neighbor is saying.  They record their answers and then I correct them later from the recordings.  Sometimes I also have them read a set passage and grade them for pronunciation.  When I'm correcting, I have copies of the passage and highlight any words or parts of words which were incorrect.

The World Language Cafe

For pronunciation, I assess students using Google Voice. See an example of how I use it here.

And since I don't have a language lab, I've tried using iPad/iPads to have students make a recording. Here's how it looked.
SpanishPlans

@SrtaJohnson had a good question on twitter…

Courtney Johnson @SrtaJohnsonEBHS

If there was a way to complete an online rubric (I know you can do it on blackboard, does edmodo?) I'd do that. For now, paper.

and @SraSpanglish seems to have found an answer with the website Forallrubrics.com

Laura Sexton @SraSpanglish

For collecting I favor Vocaroo, and actual evaluation on Forallrubrics

I am fairly new at using technology in the classroom. However, I recently decided to abandon a traditional beginning of the year review test for my 7th and 8th graders. Instead, the kids all used their ipads (we are in the second year of a 1:1 program!) and they had to record themselves speaking according to a series of prompts. So simple...use the video camera and then submit the video via google docs shared folders! Love! @senorawolney

Ashley Leonard had this to say:
There are three easy ways to assess speaking using technology.

1. Smart Voice is an app that lets you record onto a tablet or phone. Students record their answer to the prompt using their own device, and then can submit it to Drop Box. This is great because students can do speaking activities outside of class for homework.

2. Audacity is a free program that you can use to record on the computer. It's relatively user friendly, but you will need a microphone. Our school system actually uses Audacity to record responses during the AP Language Exams.

3. Digital Recorders are another alternative. Our school has 8 handheld digital recorders. They're super easy to use for the students, and they can easily be passed around. This is probably my favorite because the students don't need anything else (no app to download, no microphone or computer program to figure out, just a record and stop button). 

And lastly, @senorawolney offerred this advice:
I am fairly new at using technology in the classroom. However, I recently decided to abandon a traditional beginning of the year review test for my 7th and 8th graders. Instead, the kids all used their ipads (we are in the second year of a 1:1 program!) and they had to record themselves speaking according to a series of prompts. So simple...use the video camera and then submit the video via google docs shared folders! Love!

If you have a blog post explaining how you have used technology to assess speaking or know of other websites or resources, please leave them in the comments section below!