Module 3 Responses

http://courtneydreyfus.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/educ-7102-module-3/#comment-11

http://yavilesdiaz.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/m3-7102-assessing-collaborative-efforts/#comment-10

Module Three Assessing Collaborative Efforts

How should participation in a collaborative learning community be assessed? In today’s education that is one of the toughest questions to answer. For many years this was an easy question to answer, simply what did you make on the test? We may not move from a “singular model” to a “collaborative model” until we answer this question. So…. how should participation in a collaborative learning community be assessed? George Siemens states that assessment should be fair and direct, based on stated outcomes, and equitable (Laureate Education, 2008). Several factors must be considered such as the “the degree of student growth”. How do we measure a student who came into the course with little prior knowledge and grew throughout the entire program compared to a student who had a vast knowledge and grew very little. Do these students deserve the same mark? If at the end of the course they were able to do the same quality of work then this would be an easy answer yes. What if the first student’s quality was not as good as the second students but you as a teacher knew he improved tremendously. Would they still receive the same grade? The only fair assessment is to set a rubric and see how the students work ranks with the rubric. As a teacher we need to challenge the students who need to be challenged and facilitate those who need our help. Assessment is an ongoing teaching method. If a teacher waits to the end of the course to formally assess the students then one, it can’t be equitable and two the teacher did the student an injustice.

What if a student does not want to participate in a collaborative community for an online course? One the instructor needs to model the community to a real world network. Next explain to the student that being involved in the community will be valuable experience for their future. George Siemens suggest in bringing in a specialist to explain the importance (Laureate Education, 2008). Next allow the student to keep their individuality. Set up some project where they can get the credit for their contribution. Blogs and discussion boards are great way to allow students to have individuality and still be involved with others. Also the instructor needs to set minimum participation that will receive a mark for. The instructor should watch closely and intervene whenever needed. Students must know the importance of their participation and be made to feel important to group and themselves.

 

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (2008).Learning communities. Baltimore: Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (2008). Assessment of collaboration. Baltimore: Author.