Jennifer ,
I think you make a valid point. We do have to be aware of how we don student assessment. I don't put total grades on students input. It may influence one way or another and I do peer review but grading is determined by me
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Jack,
True! You may have to provide information in a variety of ways.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Jack,
You make great points! Students do need to feel comfortable with the technology. Building successful usage can be the key.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I believe the three most important things to consider when assessing the use of technology-assessment tools in an online-learning environment are:
1. The relevance of the tools to the class and its students
2. The effectiveness of the tools in actually evaluating student learning
3. The feedback from students on their impression of the relevance and effectiveness of the chosen tools
If an instructor believes that the tool is relevant and effective but students believe the technology is too advanced or confusing, the tool will not be effective for either the student or the instructor.
to Tina Tingle,
to assist students who are afraid of technology, you have to work very slowly: one step at the time. Just start from the very beginning.
Either the student will get it, or he/she will give up.
I have come to this conclusion (a not very popular but a realistic one): Not everybody is qualifed to get an acadmic degree, and of those who are qualifed, not everybody can do it on line.
I have even met colleagues who were not capable of teaching on line.
Jack, I agree with you. However, how do you assist student's who are afraid of technology? I have found that there are some student's who can hinder their progress when they do not understand how to manuever the virtual campus. I have been clearly frustrated when a student constantly inquires as to how to access information, especially,if I have addressed much information in chats and the announcements and have offered to meet with them individually.
Dr. Williamson, I believe that knowledge based assessments, performance based assessments, and project based assessments would be the three most important things to consider. I think that students' do expect to have quizzes and exams to measure their performance, this derives from traditional education and has proven to be successful. Additionally, any group projects presented online provides a forum for students' to demonstrate the knowledge derived from the course and allows the instructor to assess students' ability to work in groups/teams which will help them learn how to interact in the "real world."
I have just a small comment about communication between students. When teaching online, as on ground, I believe instuctors should hold true to their ethical principals concerning student evaluation. I personally feel group projects and discussion are a wonderful, and necessary, component of learning. However (big pause)... I feel it is highly unethical to have students "assess" other students. Furthermore, besides going against my personal ethics, it might represent a breach of the FERPA contract we have with our students.
We might do it synchronously or not.
There might some cases in which speed is relevant. Generally understanding the concepts is much important.
The first point is that the student should master the technology and not be afraid of it.
The second point is that the student should undertand the question asked.
The third point is that the tool should be valid. That means that the tool should measure what it is supposed to measure.
Beverly,
Wow, you are "right on the money". I do think sometimes we forget the your #3.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
George,
I think you have some great points! I think we do have to be careful that we don't get "sucked in" to new technology without determining if it improves learning or makes learning more efficient. good points.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
You need to consider the following:
1. Learning outcomes that the assessment tools are targeted to measure.
2. The feasibility of the assessment tool to be delivered effectively in the online environment
3. Direct correlation of the assessment tools to the course objectives and learner activities
Technology has a lot of uses in the classroom and the potential is “virtually†unlimited. One of the things that should be considered when considering assessments is that the tool measures what it is supposed to measure. The needs assessment is important in learning as in training in the workplace, and the goals of the training must be clearly laid out. The material presented should be in such a way that it can be measured in terms of the results of the training/instruction and the impact of that on the student. The materials that I refer to here can be those provided by the instructor, from online resources, and from students’ experience. The quality of the assessment methods must also be a consideration.
The second consideration is how students learn. I have seen articles that address up to seven learning styles that include visual, auditory, verbal, hands on, logical, interpersonal for social students, and then intrapersonal for those who would rather work alone. This latter category of styles is more common than I would have thought in the online learning environment. I use a group project in some of my classes and there are students who cringe as “group week†draws near. I consider the possibility and practicality of the group in the work environment as well as it being a neat way for students to interact. I have found that many students pursue an online education to avoid just that. There is the consideration of access as well. We assume that online students have access to computers, obviously. I have encountered issues with some platforms that do not support the application I want to use. This happened recently with Android technology not accepting Adobe Acrobat which is needed for the online chat. There are also accommodation issues of students that we must be aware of.
The third consideration that I think might rate number one, actually, is that the instructor must be well-versed (i.e., the “expert’) in the application. If the instructor does not understand it and cannot undo the technical glitches, then that tool will certainly be quite a challenge to the student. The flip side here is that students must know how to use the technological tools that they are provided. We must be careful in the use of whistles and bells and not overwhelm (or over stimulate) students. Our tools must facilitate the students’ interaction, hence easy to use (and I think they should be fun as well.)
Dell,
This is a good start. You need to determine best tool for best task. We need to make sure that we use the most effective tool. I can still hammer a nail in a wall with a screwdriver, although there is a tool more efficient to do the job! :)
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
When assessing the use of technology assessment tools in an online learning environment, what I believe and I have not had the pleasure of teaching in this environment, but first I would like to think it would be crucial for me to understand the specific functions of the technology to meet my needs and then the needs of the students and second the effectiveness of the technology.
Gwendolyn,
Good answer. Orientations can make this transition better!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
First the student population you have, then their abilities,then how can I match what I need to teach them with what varous tools I have available, lastley make sure the student understands what is necessary to be accomplished
Kendra,
True! The use of tools provided by publisher provide that aids in grading is so smart!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The three most important things I believe that are necessary to consider for the use of technology assessment tools are:
1) ease of use
2) effectiveness
3) result output
If a tool is not simple to use, then students will find excuses not to use it and it will detract from the learning process. If the answers provided do not give the needed information to adjust and make the class better moving forward, then the assessment wasn't worth the effort. The result output is more of a format question. If memorization is the goal for certain topics, then multiple choice assessments can be the best method for evaluation -- the use of software to aid in grading can allow instructors to concentrate time on covering material that was not fully understood instead of grading essay questions, for example.
