Juan,
[Of course my "old guy" comment was said tongue in cheek]. BTW, that's a problem with OL posts, the choice of words, meaning, tone, inflection, application - all are absent. Any way, Q&A is great for assessing and it's unfortunate time usually doesn't allow for more formal use of this method of student assessment.
Barry Westling
Hi Barry,
Yea, Socrates was just an old guy! But you know, he had a very good approach. I use the Socratic method in all my online classes nd often in my f2f classes. This helps me to know what matereial I need to pay more attention to and cover that in the class- in my discussion questions.
Juan,
Great. You know, Socrates just asked his students questions (undoubtedly thinking questions) as his way of measuring if his students "got it". But you know, he was just some old guy!
Barry Westling
You are very correct on the fact the evaluation is not done by following a set routine. The challenge is being able to accurately measure the learning accomplished by the students. I will look at my "evaluation methods" and redo them to incorporated variety, be felexible, and make sure they adhere to the established guidelines. Thanks for those words of direction and wisdom.
Juan,
Evaluating student learning need not follow any routine path. The key is to make sure we accurately measure learning, and not just follow a process that "should measure". Variety, flexibility, and adherance to established guidelines will all contribute to achieving student learning outcomes.
Barry Westling
The outcome of student-centered learning is that they are compentent in the material taught. This can sometimes be determined by written tests but not all students do well in written tests. The teacher needs to all know how respond to question and how well they can communicate the material in class discussions. There are students who do not do well in written tests but do know the material. The teacher might go a bit further and administor oral tests to student that she/he, base on class activities, believes have good knowledge of the material. The outcome is to make sure that the students have learned the material.
Edward,
Nice! Tests are only a measure of learning (or the degree to which it has occurred). There are varieties of testing methods. To demonstrate learning, verbal questioning has been used for thousands of years, and is a satisfactory method, albeit time consuming (which is probably why many teachers avoid using it).
Barry Westling
I have observed several people over the years who could not take a written test. When the test results were reviewed, they were at the top of the correct answer providers. I have in those cases reviewed the test in private with the student, used the verbal responses as an indicater of how well the material had been mastered and adjusted the test scores to note the fact they were based on verbal results. I also note the students records to indicate that fact for future instructor information.
Hi Jeanie,
Real wold should be included in the student learning outcomes if we are to prepoare for the work setting. This may tangible and measurable things such as credentialing, licensing, certification, proficiencies, or skill performance. It may also include intangibles such as professionalism, attendance and puinctuality, dress and appearance, and high moral, ethical and appropriate work behavior. Of course, the big one is getting a job that leads to a successful caeer!
Barry Westling
I feel it is important for instructors to motvate students to learn, however a student needs to put forth the effort to do so. I am not an instructor who will"spoon feed" a student. We as instructors must prepare them for the "real world" Student learning outcomes are not always in the hand of the instructor. I had a student who was fine at "just getting by". I knew he had the potential to do better.
Hi Edward,
You're right, ultimately students need to know what it is they're supposed to learn, and creating some form of assessment that measures that degree of learning (or lack of).
Barry Westling
When I was a respiratory therapy instructor I lived by "competencies", 'terminal objectives" and "enabling objectives." My educational philosophy was, and remains today, that students understand what they need to know and on what any assessment would be based on. When students did well, e.g. pass an exam, or skill assessment that both of us had done our job [teacher-learner].
Now, teaching general education courses, I'm trying to apply the same practices to help students succeed in the courses I teach. Even though the book publishers provide all sorts of resources they do not provide good student learning outcomes or objectives. So I am in the process of rewriting the objectives to, hopefully, guide students to success.
When I was a respiratory therapy instructor I lived by "competencies", 'terminal objectives" and "enabling objectives." My educational philosophy was, and remains today, that students understand what they need to know and on what any assessment would be based on. When students did well, e.g. pass an exam, or skill assessment that both of us had done our job [teacher-learner].
Now, teaching general education courses, I'm trying to apply the same practices to help students succeed in the courses I teach. Even though the book publishers provide all sorts of resources they do not provide good student learning outcomes or objectives. So I am in the process of rewriting the objectives to, hopefully, guide students to success.
I agree. When a student does poorly, often a little discussion time and minor changes are all we need to do to help their results improve.
Dr. Richard,
You describe a very interactive system which sounds wonderful. Another meaning is the required Student Learning Objectives (SLO's) that are established by the institution and or program that define what outcomes must be completed in order for the student to pass muster. In this meaning, I look at the daily learning objective (DLO's) as "the how" of a topic, and SLO's as "the what" of a topic. What is it that is to be learned (see SLO's). How are we going to reach attaining the SLO's? (see the DLO's).
Barry Westling
Students need to interact with content to develop their own realities as they engage in learning experiences. Rather than emphasizing expected learning outcomes, we should focus on learning experiences for which students develop their own meanings. Students should be expected to develop personalized concepts, skills, and attitudes as a result of participation in experiences.
Hi Carroll:
Yup - and usually the better, stronger are the students that pick up on that. Yet we have to try to reach all our students - even the weaker ones, in hopes of bringing their performance up to at least a minimal or acceptable level.
Regards, Barry
student get out of class what they put into it. learning centered on the students needs is more effective. if they care they will learn
Hi Miriam:
For me, learning outcomes are sort of like the "what a student is supposed to learn", whereas, daily objectives are the "how the material and objectives will be accomplished".If done correctly, improved student results will occur.
Regards, Barry
The outcome of student-centered learning is a more confident and capable student. Being able to present information to each student in a manner that they will understand and retain makes it more probable that they will succeed.
