Yes, our online school applies each of these assessments in the course assignments. I also like the option for the online learner to be made the ‘presenter’ for a class to present a final project. I also incorporate group projects in the online forum as this is a real-world way of doing business in today’s international business formats.
Peter,
I love this strategy. What a great idea to combine creativity with critical thinking. You are smart to use the rubric as it provides expectations for your students and provide grading guidance for you.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Eyad,
You are smart to use them! Students know what is expected of them and you provide them with fair grading. Win-win!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Audrey,
Start with case studies. They provide scenario learning. I would also look to see what products your book publisher has. They can provide assignments with a rich online environment.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Dr. Christopher,
You sound like a very patient person. Keep a journal of this journey so you can reflect on it after the process. You will have such valuable information for the future.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The scenario of a class I facilitate online forces the students to play make-believe. They have to create the dining room for a restaurant. Designing everything from the concept of the restaurant to the type of service it will provide for the make-believe guests. Then using a grading rubric answer questions pertaining to the assignment. I am a very creative person and would have loved a course such as this. But the majority of my students seem to get bogged down on just creating the shell of the project and never really answer the important rubric questions. Does anyone have any ideas as to how this assignment could be better fashioned for the better assessment of my students? PM
In the two courses I teach they both use rubrics to layout the grading criteria for the assignment. The students find it easy and honest in the way the assignment will be graded. They have commented on how well they liked being told what they will be graded on and it gives them an opportunity to get the highest grade possible. We need to remember that the students are taking different courses to pass with the highest grade as well as learn about the subject matter. First and foremost they worry about passing the course then second they hope to learn something. At least this is what they tell me in the class evaluation toward the end of the term when their grade has been posted already.
I haven't done anything with authentic assessments, but I am interested on how to incorporate this in an online environment.
I am trying. We recently installed Mahara to go along with our Moodle instance and the possibilities are amazing. The problem is that there is a pretty steep training curve for not only the students but the instructors as well. In a year program this takes a tremendous amount of effort for the instructors to get students up to speed. We really want the students to use their iPads to create video learning journals and upload them but this is an ongoing process and sometimes does not go smoothly.
-Chris
Jeremy,
How to you tie that to the learning and assess it?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I have asked students to go in their community and take pictures of examples of sociological concepts.
Stacy,
I agree with that. How do you evaluate trends?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Chander,
I agree with you! The rubric is the key to setting those expectations for the student and holding instructors to certain grading expectations.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I believe observing the student trends in an online environment is very important in order to evaluate what is effective and what could be improved.
I have using individual projects to determine if students can apply the course material towards solving real-world problems. Key for this assessment to be successful is to set expectations in the form of rubric at the beginning of the course. Thanks
Lisa,
That is a great use of portfolios. What a great idea of the professional portfolio. Do you have other students to review them?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Michael,
Wow, what a great assessment plan. You have it designed from end to end and it is authentic. What a great idea and a great way for students to transfer what they learn to real world application.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I have used portfolios, not as part of the course, but as a supplemental tool. When my students are far enough into their paralegal program, I stop and have them submit a resume, cover letter, example of a case brief, an example of a correspondence, and an example of a legal memo. This allows me to see what could be presented to a potential employer or externship site manager and I am able to help a student prepare to move on with their career. If the items provided in the portfolio are lacking, I will talk with the student about how to make their items better, and at times I have contacted their legal writing teachers to have them reach out and help the students.
I try to incorporate scenarios or any type of simulation (coordination with industry) where the lessons are to align change and change management, sometimes these scenarios are based also on case studies but I personally enjoy the concept of practical application, so that students can practice, get hands on, see what is expected and relate what is being taught in text to real world practices. In my school, understanding stakeholders and how processes of business work is a good method in authentic assessment and yes I do use a Rubric from industry which outline the metrics, however, this assessment is for students to understand as they rather enjoy it, therefore they seem find meaning in everything taught.
Heather,
That sounds like a great idea! How do you grade it?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
