Immersive Feedback to Improve Student Learning Kelly Wilkinson, Ph.D. – Director of CIRT, Indiana State University Tena B. Crews, Ed.D. – Professor of IIT, University of South Carolina Presentation for the Midwest Educause-2011

Assessment Huba & Freed (2000) “The process of gathering and discussing information from multiple and diverse sources in order to develop a deep understanding of what students know, understand, and can do with their knowledge as a result of their educational experiences; the process culminates when assessment results are used to improve subsequent learning” (p. 8)

assessment "To assess" derives from the Latin verb "assidere“ To sit by (originally, as an assistant-judge in the context of taxes) Hence, in "assessment of learning" We "sit with the learner“ That implies Assessment is something that we do with and for our students rather than to them

So what if we changed the way we give feedback?

Initial research – e-feedback Feedback a different way Tied to a larger study about online learning Looked for a creative way to give online students more faculty contact Focused on grading and feedback Used partner grading

What students said

Now What we knew. . .

Typical handwritten assessment So, you like circles, huh? Me too!!!!

Graded Paper w/ Track Changes Cool! Thanks for doing all the work for me!

What if we added . . . http://www.hrsm.sc.edu/facstaff/tcrews/GradingTech.asp

demographics Gender % Age Male 55% 18-19 6% Female 45% 20-21 68% 22-23 13% 24-25 3% Above 25 10%

Most helpful? Handwritten Track Changes Audio w/ Changes Audio w/ Tablet Most Helpful 17% 29% 49% 2nd Most Helpful 24% 20% 23% 30% 3rd Most Helpful 25% 31% 15% Least Helpful 34% 32% 6%

using the tablet, Does the audio/visual. . . improve writing skill understand why mistakes be successful in the class create a relationship with instructor positive feedback effective as a Podcast effective for traditional course effective for online course Strongly Agree 59% 62% 49% 46% 52% 43% 54% Agree 38% 35% 44% 45% 41% Disagree 2% 3% 7% 14% 10% 4% Strongly Disagree 1%

Rubric wanted

Feedback was more immersive - Name Change: Immersive Feedback

What does “Immersive” mean? Generating a three-dimensional image which appears to surround the user. World English Dictionary What does “Feedback” mean? A reaction or response to a particular process or activity World English Dictionary

Immersive Feedback!

Personalize feedback process The goal is to remove the “distance” between the student and the faculty member – in essence making the feedback process more personal and more “real.”

Social Informatics Technology As a means to increase and improve communication As a factor limiting effective communication (Kling, Rosenbaum, Sawyer, 2005) Information and communications technology can be seen as both a benefit and detriment to social interaction and relationships.

Power of Immersive Feedback Traditional written feedback coupled with audio/video feedback I2S, S2S, and S2I Reinforces

Lessons Learned Power to personalize the assessment process in online instruction Efficient method for faculty to bring richness to the assessment process Particularly effective in providing formative feedback to students Criterion based rubrics necessary for summative grading

More Lessons Learned Hard copy reinforces learning through assessment Both the “what” and the “why” are provided to students The “why is missing in paper-based grading. Use of “track changes” may be viable for some students, but faculty must serve in an “editor” type role Possible to bring students into the grading process

Other Uses Syllabus Overview Electronic Journaling Video Diary Peer Assessment Teaching Demo Oral Report Electronic “How To” Guide Internship Reporting THINK outside the BOX!

Questions, Thoughts, Comments?