Flow, Flexibility and Student Outcomes LeAne Rutherford and Shelley Smith Instructional Development Service
Agenda Rethinking Your Courses: Adaptability, Flexibility and Flow Identifying Essential Course Competencies Identify Authentic Assessment Options Course Communication Final Thoughts
Impact on Your Courses Student illness and variable attendance Potential Faculty Illness Increased need for assignment, testing, and course communication flexibility Accomplishing all this without disrupting the course flow or “bottom-line” competencies
Identify Important Course Competencies?
Course Competencies/Outcomes Plan S MART : S pecific M easurable A ttainable R esults-oriented T ime-bound
Competency/Outcomes Examples Business Principles of Management: Identify and integrate methods of organizational structure and the related topics of division of labor, authority/responsibility, span of control, centralization/decentralization, delegation, organizational change, staffing, and diversity within the workforce. Chemistry 1 : Name and write formulas for inorganic compounds
Adapting Learning Assessments?
Adapting Assessments Think about: Focus on Adaptability and Flexibility More frequent testing (option to discard one) Alternative testing methods Variety of assignments to achieve single objective Adapting different learning technologies
Assessment Variations Qualitative Quantitative Direct Indirect Application Declarative…
Direct Methods: Samples of individual student work Pre-test and post-test evaluations Standardized tests Performance on licensure exams Blind scored essay tests Internal or external juried review of student work Case study/problems Capstone papers, projects or presentations Project or course-imbedded assessment Documented observation and analysis of student behavior/performance Externally reviewed internship or practicum ePortfolio Activity logs Performances Interviews (including videotaped)
Examples Management: Graded Practical Exercise “Who Goes Abroad Management Team Decision” (20 points, covering topics of organizational structure). Chemistry: Laboratory Experiment—Inorganic nomenclature (40 pts.) How could these be done electronically?
Student Communication
What do you do now? What if F2F is not an option for all students? What are your electronic options? Course alias CMS mail and news options
Final Considerations Know what’s Important Evaluate your comfort level Identify support systems ITSS (electronic options) IDS (Curriculum flexibility)