Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Technology resource teacher Annie L’Esperance says the device is fast becoming an indispensable tool. (Photo: Tammy L. Lane)

The latest generation of printers from Lexmark allows some Fayette County teachers to leave their red pens in the desk drawer. Several schools in the district are piloting the multifunction device, which scores bubble tests and turns out an analysis of the results.

“It gives immediate feedback and helps the teachers with a quick turnaround,” said Annie L’Esperance, the technology resource teacher at Southern Middle School. As a result, “teachers can spend more time planning (classroom lessons) and less time grading.”

The machine pulls in data from the district’s student information system (Infinite Campus) and preps multiple-choice answer sheets with students’ names and class details. After students complete the test, the teacher runs the bubble sheets back through the printer with an answer key. It then grades the tests and analyzes the responses.

For instance, teachers can see at a glance how each student is doing and which questions were most frequently missed. That kind of feedback can indicate what content to review with individual kids and what topics to cover again with the whole class. The device will also help teachers produce a spreadsheet of students’ progress over time.

“They can see ‘Are our scores where they need to be?’ or ‘Does something need to be re-taught?” said L’Esperance, who said the tool is fast becoming indispensable.

In addition to Southern Middle, teachers at Bryan Station middle and high schools, Paul Laurence Dunbar High, Henry Clay High, and Deep Springs, Dixie and Veterans Park elementary schools have been test-driving the scanners.

“Lexmark has been very attuned to educators’ needs during the pilot, and we’re eager to see the results,” said Greg Drake, coordinator of instructional technology for Fayette County Public Schools.

One hope is that the machines will help teachers determine overall areas of concern and focus on their students’ particular needs.

“The idea is that any teacher should be able to get immediate information after a test is graded,” said Deby Oliver, a Lexmark consultant. “With our solution, the teacher can give the test, grade the test and have nine different reports that give all the information they’d ever want to know.”

For more information about this pilot with Lexmark or similiar initiatives in Fayette County Public Schools, e-mail Greg Drake, coordinator of intructional technology.