System and Method For Real-Time Observation Assessment

Abstract

Techniques for real-time observation assessment are provided. The techniques, which are designed for educators, take advantage of handheld computers, desktop/laptop computers and Internet access in order to reduce the paperwork associated with conventional educational assessments. An array of instructional assessment applications are designed to run on handheld computers. The instructional assessment applications may be based on existing and widely used paper methodologies. A common Web-based platform for assessment application distribution, selection, download, data management and reporting is also provided. Users can then periodically synchronize instructional data (assessments, diagnostic results, notes and/or schedules) to the Web site. At the Web site, browser-based reports and analysis can be viewed, administered and shared via electronic mail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A real-time observation assessment system comprising:
 an assessment application that enables an assessor to administer an assessment to a student, the assessment application including code that configures an interface to include:
 a text area of the application to display at least a portion of the assessment text and to receive a selection of a portion of the assessment text as input, 
 a freehand area of the application to receive freehand text from the assessor, wherein the freehand text is associated with the selected portion of the assessment text, and 
 a review area of the application to display the selected portion of the assessment text and the freehand text; and 
   a memory code segment that is capable of leveraging memory to store assessment data that associates the selected portion of the assessment text and the freehand text.