UB Reporter: Software grades handwritten essays
Now, here is a chance for someone to write a professional response for this week and branch out your ideas…
Take this article from the University of Buffalo Reporter and put it in conversation with the first four chapters of Lucy Calkins’ book. For instance, you could start with her idea that “We Care About Writing When It Is Personal and Interpersonal” (p. 14) and discuss her ideas in relation to the goals of this program.
What would Calkins have to say about this program? Would it dehumanize the writing that students do? Or, on the other hand, could it help improve their writing by getting an immediate, even if computer-generated response? Would the computer be responding to the same elements in the writing as a teacher?
I really hope someone takes on the challenge to write a response about this article in conversation with Calkins (or Spandel). Good luck!
Software grades handwritten essaysNew computational tool may boost students’ reading comprehension
By ELLEN GOLDBAUM
Contributing EditorComputer scientists in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have been working with their colleagues in the Graduate School of Education to develop a computational tool that not only dramatically reduces the time it takes to grade children’s handwritten essays, but also may help boost students’ reading-comprehension skills.
The software has special relevance to the school systems and teachers involved in administering the standardized English Language Arts exams that are given every year, usually in January, by public school systems in every state.
This month, every New York school district will administer these assessments to their students in grades three to eight.The National Science Foundation recently awarded the UB researchers a $100,000 grant to develop new algorithms that eventually could allow computers to take over the grading of children’s handwritten essays.
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