I teach an online literature courses, and if I were to set up a blogging assignment for students as an outside learning addition, I would assess the blog entries similarly to how I assess discussion board posts. First, there would be evaluation of content and focus on topic. Secondly, I would also evaluate how students respond to the comments about their entries. In addition, I would evaluate the growth in critical thinking over the time period of the class. For example, do the blog entries reflect an increase in perceptions and analyses about authors or the literature? Are the students’ reflections about their learning experiences presented in a in-depth manner? As with most writing projects given to student, they have to be evaluated in a holistic manner over a specific time period.
I do use blogs in my online course and the students are provided with a rubric at the beginning of the semester. FYI - they are asked to write a final blog post to reflect on their blogging performance using the rubric criteria to guide their assessment.
corinne,
Great post. You make so many great points. You have to determine what you think is average blogging versus good or excellent. You may want to evaluate the comments regarding did the students make their point. Just a thought. . . .
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Samantha,
You are right. It depends on what you want the students to learn or what the students to show what they learned through this medium. That is important.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
LE,
What a smart way to go. Students would then know what you expect when they use this medium.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The assessment of blog entries is based on content or posts. For example, the blog content may be based on ideas, comprehension, data, intellectual engagement, analysis, and critique. Or, blog posts may be assessed on writing quality, relevance, post frequency, community, or other issues.
Prior to assessment, it is important to provide students with examples of good blog postings as a model representing what is expected from students. Blogs postings many times have the same qualities as discussion board postings. A simple statement of agreement or disagreement is not acceptable. Assessment criteria for blogs may include regular use, blog entries that stimulate additional blog postings, or a progress in discussion or reflection.
However, the assessment of blog postings is different from simple discussion board postings as they typically engage students with the course material and provide for a deeper discussion of ideas and problems that emerge from the material. Blogs may further immerse the students in the content by providing videos, ideas, and implications. Blogs may also be used to assess students’ work in a formative or summative format.
Jennifer
I forgot to mention that the rubric needs to be made available to students so they know how they are being assessed on the blog assignment. Thanks for the reminder.
Samantha
Hello
This depends on the reason the blog is assigned. If there is a specific question that students are anwering or topic they are asked to discuss I will use a rubric. If it is just for participation I will see how active they are and how appropriate their posts are.
Samantha
To assess the student's use of blogging I would develop a rubric that focuses on the content of the communication and quality of the communication. I would verify that the student was technically accurate and that the communication was effectively written.
Ed,
I love the KISS principle! It is a great rule to live by. It is also a challenge to limit students to 140 characters and NOT abbreviate.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Assessing students work can consist of evaluating what is posted and how it is posted along with the brevity of the post. Sometimes the KISS principle can go a long ways when characters are limited to 140 digits.
Denise,
Great idea, would you think about using a rubric?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The assessment of the use of blogs are important. One of the first things I would look at in a blog would be the content. However, does the content fit with the expectations of the assignment. Did the student cover all of the questions that were given about the assignment. I would also access the number of posts that were given on the blog.
Jennifer ,
I love the term you are using; professionalism. Students need to know what is and be able to project it in their communication. This is a great way to measure it.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Eileen,
That is exactly what I would do. You need to have a defined plan for using a blog for student learning.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Mathias,
That is a great use. We seem to focus on students using the blog but that is a great idea for instructors to use it. There are so many learning objects out in the web that can be integrated into a blog.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Christy,
Great points. It has to meet the outcomes you need to assess. You don't want it to be busy work; it must have a purpose.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Candace ,
Don't you just love rubrics? I hadn't thought about the addition of media to add to the discussion. Nice!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Roshawna,
I agree with you. Students need to know expectation before they put time in the assignment. I not a believer in surprises!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Chastity,
I think that is a great idea for measurement, leading dialogue. That is an interesting way of measuring the value of the blog.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
