Exploring Together

5 responses so far ↓

• 1    lois // Sep 15, 2009 at 6:07 pm

  This module made me seriously reflect about the most effective forms of assessment. I have found new terms and many ways information and communication technology can support learning and assessment practices. I have learnt assessment should not be the last consideration or the ‘afterthought’ when designing learning in an online environment. The design of assessment activities should be integrated with the learning design and planned from the outset. I have also had to think carefully about how technology can support my assessment strategies, rather than let it determine or drive my choice of assessment strategies and methods. While there are many exciting possibilities using technology, it must be appropriate to the assessment and outcome.
  The best forms of assessment are aligned with the learning goals and the teaching pedagogies we use and are designed to give feedback to students. We need to harness assessment to encourage the sort of learning outcomes we are seeking. In student-centred learning we are emphasising knowledge, attitudes and skills such as responsibility for one’s learning, independence and co-operation, problem solving, understanding and thinking for oneself. Assessment drives learning more than anything else because it represents the bottom line of students’ performance. If we really believe in project based learning, then we must work hard to ensure that our assessment practices, reflect, encourage and reward student centred learning. We need to be constantly aware of any discrepancies between what we are asking students and what we really want to know.

• 2    Leanne Sittampalam // Sep 23, 2009 at 7:03 pm

  This module has made me reflect on assessment and its relation to unit planning. I have worked at planning this unit in parallel with assessment tasks. They have been more structured, deliberate and embedded into the unit. The cyclic approach has allowed for this self-reflection. I have discovered many resources to support assessment. Student-centered learning also places the emphasis on providing feedback to students. Intergratingstudent-centered learning and technology will remain a timetabling challenge for me that has to be worked through. With this unit I have incorporated a lot of flexibility to ensure that lessons can be rearranged to allow for students to have access to computers for uploadind work toWiki space and research. Much of the activities I have incorporated are driven by student centered learning, however I have to be mindful mof allowing enough time for reflection and to tie concepts together. This is the time when the unit questions are addressed.

• 3    rita chiodo // Oct 10, 2009 at 9:43 pm

  The main issue fo me in the Arts domain area has always been about how do we assess and ensure that it is aligned to goals of course development. It is essential to consider assessment at the begining rather at the end of unit development since so many aspects can be assessed (esp. thinking ) not just the finished product as has often been the case. Ensuring that assessment is clear and easy to understand is important to both teachers and students. It has been good to see a variety of assessment tools which i will endevour to use in the development of my unit. Self and peer evaluation is something that i havent used much in the past(formally) but can see its importance to the development of the student. The use of technology to research,present and evaluate work is an exciting idea(wiki), but also i have to realistic in that acess is not always possible so there fore there has to be flexiblity so the tasks can be presented in a variety of formats and assessed acordingly using relevant rubrics. (this will be considered in my unit plan) I am excited by the fact that that my students can present there work on a class wiki ( research and practical) and there is scope for peer feedback/evluation. Sucsess can be measured in so many exciting ways as long as we know what we are measuring and how.

• 4    sau30 // Nov 4, 2009 at 6:04 pm

  I guess I never realised how much of my assessment was done in class based on participation, especially in class discussions until you have actually write it all down and analyse your own practices.
  As a Drama teacher I am constantly monitoring my students and adjusting the class to suit them, what I didnt realise was that as I wrote lessons and curriculum I needed to be thinking about adapting it for the assessment and for the students.
  Having all of this technology like Rita mentioned is fantastic, however it is the correct use of this technology and the realistic use of assessment and the flexibility in my assessment in classes, that I feel will now change.
  I definately feel I have been not just creating a unit but examining myself through a microscope and analysing the best practise for both myself and my students.
  I will also be incorporating more peer feedback within my classes as this is the best way for students to seek an alternative understanding than their own or mine.

• 5    aadamsau // Nov 7, 2009 at 8:43 pm

  This has been a very interesting week as I formed my unit plan, student samples and assessment. I often use self assessment, peer assessment and checklists in 7-9 rather than in senior classes as content suddenly seems more important in the senior classes. I have had to look at my resignation about student involvement with their learning expecially in Year10. I have been lucky to be trialling most of the unit as I have written it and have been surprised at the impact of the assessments I have included. Students are referring to the rubrics that we brainstormed as a class. I thought they never looked at them! The blog is focussing their research and they are trying to answer their questions. The only frustration I have is that access to the computers is limited.

  The assessments have also made me question the whole unit. The essential questions are very important but I feel that my unit really doesn’t have them in the forefront all the time.

  It has been really good to see the variety of assessments and I have realized the importance of planning them at the start. I found the assessment library difficult to use and found little for secondary students.

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