CEP 813 is an online, master’s level course that is housed in the Master of Arts in Educational Technology program and welcomes graduate learners from across the University. We start CEP 813 considering assumptions and beliefs about assessment. Then, we follow with an exploration of histories and theories of assessment. We shift into creative and promising practices while we continue to question elements of assessment such as standardization, grading, alignment, and feedback. Learners create numerous assessments based on their evolving knowledge with scaffolding from the course and ongoing instructor support. The course concludes with a reflection and synthesis of their learning.
Technology Used
In addition to a robust and fully-accessible use of D2L and its tools, to help assessment come alive for learners we created and employed three additional tools for reflection, engagement, and creation:
- The Assessment Guidebook (AG) is an individual Google Slide Deck that we make a copy and share with each learner. It is a private learning journal where students are guided through activities and maintain their thoughts and growth in understanding throughout the course in one space. The AG provides a space for learners to confidentially share information with their instructor about who they are and their learning needs. It is a place for learners to actively engage with and reflect on course content, readings, and ideas. Finally, it is a place for instructors to provide feedback to learners about their work. At the end of the course, the AG becomes a warehouse of learners’ adventures in the content that they can revisit in the future as needed. Here is a link to a sample AG.
- The Collective Core Readings (CCR) is a shared Google Slide Deck to which the whole class contributes. This space allows learners to engage with our readings asynchronously while being able to read what their classmates are thinking and sharing about the readings. We use it to provide questions and activities that scaffold the learners’ reading and meaning-making in a way that is more supportive and engaging than traditional discussion boards. This has resulted in deeper engagement and a greater variety of ideas shared. We chose Google Slides for the options of activities we could do and that we could keep adding slides (vs Jamboard which maxes out at 20). Here is link to a sample CCR.
- The CEP 813 Sandbox is a riff on an “IT sandbox” – a self-contained testing environment to create things that may or may not work. The CEP 813 Sandbox is a place for learners to play, create, and test assessment strategies and technologies in a low-stakes environment so they can push their creativity and application knowledge. We use the Sandbox three times per week for six weeks to support learners creating 18 assessments. Each week, we add a new constraint that learners include in their assessment. These topics are based on previously explored content and provide learners the chance to apply their knowledge. We use Google Sheets to randomly assign criteria which pushes learners to try new things and adds challenge and fun to the creation process. Here is a link to a sample Sandbox.
Team Members
Candace Robertson, Liz Owens Boltz, Stephanie Jennings