Distance Ed Assessment Options Introductions Bethany Bovard & Julia Parra

Agenda What is assessment? Why do it? What do we assess? Challenges & opportunities What is the process for developing assessments? Types of alternative assessments The role of rubrics Handout index cards - one minute paper “What is assessment & why do it?” Pickup, read Skip or cover appropriate slides as necessary

Why do it? To audit learning To inform / improve learner performance To inform / improve teaching

Assess what? Cognitive domain - easiest to do online knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation Psychomotor domain - hard to do online Appropriate use of lab equip, musical instrument technique, proper CPR technique, etc. Affective domain - can’t measure directly, usually do via observation - hard to do online Attitudes (ie: improving girls’ attitudes toward science and their ability to do science) Interpersonal skills (ie: treating patients w/ respect) Tie in assessment strategies with learning goals. IE: If you want the student to know how to apply some knowledge, you do not assess them on how well they know the terminology.

Process Identify desired results Determine acceptable evidence what should learner know / be able to do? Determine acceptable evidence performance tasks, criteria Plan instruction & learning activity

Alternative assessment Minute papers Concept maps Case studies Portfolios Journals Discussions More... Discuss types of assessment used in their classes. See examples. Examples

What are rubrics? set of criteria used to assess student work set of criteria used to establish knowledge/performance standards Handout example rubrics

Work on class assessments Specific help translating f2f assessments to WebCT environment Time to work on own assessments