Learning objectives and assessments

1. Learning objectives and assessments David Steer Department of Geosciences The University of Akron Oct 2013

2. Pilot Materials, Make changes

3. Learning Objectives Learning Objectives are the intended results of the teaching activities • Cognitive: What do they know? • Affective: What do they care about? • Behavioral: What can they do?

4. Learning Objectives Writing Learning Objectives • Describe conditions under which behavior is to be performed • Use action verbs • State Criteria • Add the product, process or outcome From Climate Unit: After completing this unit, students will be able to correctlydistinguishbetween forced and unforced climate change.

5. Learning Objectives Learning Objectives target different levels of learning • Developmental: lower level tasks required before moving on • Mastery: complex tasks likely to have varying levels of progress Learning objectives support your learning goals.

6. Learning Objectives This afternoon you will develop learning objectives that support your learning goals memorization and recall getting the meaning of using knowledge taking apart information reorganizing information generating, producing Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating Developmental Mastery See the Bloom’s Taxonomy: A Framework for Learning Handout

7. Learning Objectives What is required from the Materials Development Rubric? • Learning objectives describe measureable geoscience literacy goals • Instructions and/or rubrics provide guidance for how students meet learning goals • Learning objectives and goals are appropriate for the intended use of the course/module • Learning objectives and goals are clearly stated for each module in language suitable for the level of the students • Learning objectives and goals address the process and nature of science and development of scientific habits of mind Must score 13/15 on this section

8. Learning Objectives What questions do you have about learning objectives? Learning objectives form the basis of assessment.

9. Pilot Materials, Make changes

10. Assessment and Measurement There are two broad categories of assessments: • Formative: While the learning is occurring • Purpose to monitor student learning • Immediate feedback • Help students & faculty identify weaknesses • Low stakes • Summative: After learning has occurred • Purpose to evaluate learning against some benchmark • High stakes (graded)

11. Assessment and Measurement What is required from the Materials Development Rubric? • Assessments measure the learning goals • Assessments are criterion referenced • Assessments are consistent with course activities and resources expected • Assessments are sequenced, varied and appropriate to the content • Assessments address goals at successively higher cognitive levels Must score 13/15 on this section

12. Minerals Module: Formative In class activity: Mining a Muffin Exercise Students are given a muffin and a variety of tools to extract the “ore.” Students are asked a variety of questions related to the costs and benefits of removing the “ore” from the muffin

13. Minerals Module: Summative Exam Question: The drawing shows a hillside in which a mining company wants to open a mine, along with a scale bar to illustrate size and distances. What are the potential costs and benefits of extracting ore in this location?

14. Assessment and Measurement What will the assessment team need? • Enough assessment opportunities to conclusively demonstrate the level of learning achieved • Learning Objective level • Both formative and summative • Module/course goal level: Summative • These assessments need to show what students know and are able to do as related to the broader goals

15. Learning Outcomes What is required from the Materials Development Rubric? • Assessments measure the learning goals • Assessments are criterion referenced • Assessments are consistent with course activities and resources expected • Assessments are sequenced, varied and appropriate to the content • Assessments address goals at successively higher cognitive levels Must score 13/15 on this section

16. Summary Pilot Materials, Make changes