Successful Online Assessment, Evaluation, and Interaction Techniques

1. Successful Online Assessment, Evaluation, and Interaction Techniques Presented by: • Dr. Barbara K.Mckenzie – Dept. of MIT, State University of West Georgia (bmckenzi@westga.edu) • Dr. Nancy G.Mims – Dept. of Educational Leadership and Foundations, Western Carolina University (nmims@wcu.edu) • Dr. Elizabeth Bennett – Dept. of MIT, State University of West Georgia (ebennett@westga.edu )

2. Introduction • Accountability increasingly important • DL classes must be held accountable for student learning • 3 areas that impact success of any DL course • Assessment • Evaluation • Interaction

3. Focus • To describe a variety of successful assessment, interaction and evaluation techniques used by distance instructors • Techniques - extracted from multiple sources • Review of the literature • Conversations with experts • Collective experiences of the authors

4. Assessment • A way of determine learning gains (Simonson, 2003) • Identifies gaps between what is expected and what is taking place in classes

5. Assessment Techniques • Students complete online learning styles questionnaires • Creates greater awareness of students’ backgrounds and how they learn the best • Example: http://tunis.commnet.edu/told/orientation/0ld_onlineLearning.html • Design your own needs assessment instrument

6. Assessment Techniques • Create your own online technology needs assessment or use an online version with students the first week of class • Have students apply class concepts to projects to projects and post them for review

7. Assessment Techniques • Create web quests for students to access online resources (e.g., Track Star -- http://trackstar.hprtec.org) • Assign students to virtual learning groups to do projects that demonstrate their skills in utilizing course content • Track students online to determine how frequently they are participating in the course

8. Assessment Techniques • Design and administer formative assessments during the course • to determine how students are doing • suggestions for improvements • Require reflective journals during the course • to demonstrate students’ understanding and overall growth during the course

9. Assessment Techniques • Have students write one minute papers • describing what they have just learned • Require students to post a certain number of times during the course • Include participation as part of their grade

10. Interaction • Two way communication activities that take place in the course: • Student to student • Student to instructor • Student to virtual learning group and other virtual learning groups • Instructor to student • Instructor to virtual learning group

11. Interaction Techniques: Getting to Know Each Other • Students design and display self introduction PowerPoint pres. • Students share information about themselves and others introduce them to the class on the BB • Students take a digital photo, type selected information, and post online • (e.g., Name, e-mail address, where employed, goals of course, hobbies, something unique)

12. Interaction Techniques: Group Projects • Assign students to virtual learning groups and have them complete a required group project • Have virtual learning group complete a group selected project

13. Interaction Techniques: Synchronous Sessions • Participate in online chats after being introduced to netiquette • Debate activities between virtual learning groups

14. Interaction Techniques: Group Discussions • Have students post reactions to required readings and respond to others postings • Interview an expert and post information online for class to review

15. Interaction Techniques: Instructor Feedback • Poll students online • Yes/No and Multiple Choice questions • Speak to students online and have them respond by speaking • File sharing and feedback from the instructor • Have virtual office hours

16. Interaction Techniques: Student Centered • Cyber café • Provide anonymous BB for students to post comments • Online games (e.g., crossword puzzles)

17. Interaction Techniques: Frequently Asked Questions • Information on questions of concern to students • Days & times for OL support • How to attach documents • Continue to enhance as needed

18. Evaluation • To answer questions focusing on the “value” of the class • How effective was the class? • Should class be continued or not? • What changes are needed? • Is the class worth the time and expense?

19. Evaluation Techniques • Develop an online summative evaluation survey that asks students to report on the value of • Course content • Technology used • Overall satisfaction with the course

20. Evaluation Techniques • Interview students online or by phone at the end of the course for feedback • Interview students a semester or a year after the course to determine its impact • Use the institution’s summative evaluation survey

21. Evaluation Techniques • Create your own summative evaluation survey • Use course reflections • Focus group discussions with students after course to evaluate effectiveness of the course • Give an open book exam at end of course to evaluate students’ critical thinking skills

22. Acknowledgement This presentation was made possible through funding by the PT3 Grant at the State University of West Georgia

23. Successful Online Assessment, Evaluation, and Interaction Techniques Presented by: • Dr. Barbara K.Mckenzie – Dept. of MIT, State University of West Georgia (bmckenzi@westga.edu) • Dr. Nancy G.Mims – Dept. of Educational Leadership and Foundations, Western Carolina University (nmims@wcu.edu) • Dr. Elizabeth Bennett – Dept. of MIT, State University of West Georgia (ebennett@westga.edu )