“Deconstructing our unconscious bias takes consistent work. We can’t address it once and be done. We need to recognize these unwanted, deep-rooted beliefs and limit their influence on us. Then our actions will match our intentions.”
-Sarah Fiarman
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So, you have created and administered an assessment that is aligned with best practices, you have provided valuable feedback to each student, and you have collected some kind of data. Now what?
Analyzing assessment data is not an easy task. As educators, many of us know just how hard it is to find time to consistently and properly address the data that we collect from administered assessments. Even if we do find the time, many of us struggle to even know where to start and how to utilize our data to become better educators.
However challenging it may seem, analyzing assessment data can play a powerful role in addressing and eliminating biases in our classrooms. Reflecting upon assessment data can help identify areas in our pedagogical practices, curriculum content, and assessment strategies that contain unconscious or hidden biases. Once identified, educators can address these biases and proactively work toward limiting them.
Over the course of my last semester as a Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) at Michigan State University (MSU), I have prioritized opportunities to explore a significant passion of mine: how assessment data can be used to effectively and constructively combat academic bias.
After many hours of research, I have created AssessBot: An automated chatbot designed to guide educators through analyzing assessment data and provide educators with tangible resources for addressing academic bias. AssessBot introduces educators to the basics of analyzing assessment data for the purpose of identifying and addressing bias. It provides opportunities for educators to reflect, explore, and learn through an easy-to-use, question-and- answer chatbot.
So, get comfy in your chair, lay out your assessment data in front of you, and embrace an open-mind. AssessBot will lighten your load and guide you through a basic process to help you get started with identifying and addressing academic bias using your own assessment data.
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