Putting pen to paper to speed up your marking sessions probably doesn’t sound like a very enticing option at all, but the company AsPen Technology Development has now created a nifty little device that could help to take some of the strain out of your paper-based workload.
The assessment marker AsPen looks and works like a normal pen and is produced by the upmarket pen producers A T Cross. And yet it has much more to offer than just a smooth flow of ink.
For example, turn the pen upside down and it will turn, as if by magic, into a barcode reader. The software supplied with the pen also allows you to allocate barcodes to your students and assign barcodes to dates, comments or scores.
Once you’ve configured these barcodes, you can then print out the sheets with the barcodes and the corresponding names. When it’s time to record any marks, you can scan the pen across the barcode that represents the student’s work you’ve just marked and then scan it across another set of barcodes that represent the marks.
You can configure the software to record all sorts of information in a way that suits you. For example, AsPen could be used to take the register or keep behaviour logs. And there is also the option to print out barcode labels to attach to your students’ books.
Once you’ve scanned the information, you simply slot the pen into the Optolink downloader, which will transfer all your information on to your PC within seconds. You can then store, display, transfer or print out the information as required.
AsPen costs pound;99.95 (plus pound;6.05 postage and packing) including batteries, cartridges, assessment software and downloader. Admittedly, this isn’t exactly cheap for an individual to buy, but once you’ve made the initial outlay, it will cost you just pound;5 for five refill ink cartridges.
Another paper saver is available from Curriculum Complete, from the Skills Factory. Skills Factory previously produced the BETT Award-winning Literacy Complete and Numeracy Complete but has now developed the series to include its latest innovation, which covers all the main primary subjects. Curriculum Complete costs pound;35 per user per year (minimum of five users).
Contact AsPen on the company’s website at www.aspenonline.co.uk, or telephone 01935 829 229.
You can find the skills factory website at www.skillsfactory.com, or telephone 01457 821 810 Yolanda Brooks
