6A Introduction to Assessment

Module 6A Description

This module will focus on the language and practices of assessment. You will learn about the assessment cycle, as well as, the differences between assessment and evaluation. We will also discuss formative vs. summative assessment and you will also provide formative feedback for this course from your student perspective that will help us improve this course.

Module 6A Objectives: At the end of this module, you will:

Provide feedback and help us evaluate this course
Describe the assessment cycle and assessment best practices
Differentiate between formative and summative assessment, as well as, the terms assessment and evaluation

Time Expectations (module 6A): 1 Hour

1. Get a feel for assessment and evaluation by providing feedback at 3 different levels for this Teach Flipped course:

Assessing your Learning Perceptions: Complete the end of course survey based on the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) you took at the beginning of this course that will demonstrate how your thinking has changed about flipping courses across the time frame of this course. After you complete the end of course CBAM survey we will send you your before and after profile.
Evaluating the Teach Flipped Course for Course Improvement: Please think about the value of this Teaching Flipped Course and provide anonymous feedback so we can use that for redesigning and adapting this course for future Teaching Flipped courses. We also would appreciate any feedback you can provide in our exit survey about your experience of learning how to flip your course.
Evaluating the Online Learning Environment: Complete the Canvas Instructure End of the Course Canvas Survey so that Canvas Instructure can evaluate your online Canvas experience.

2. Think about what "Assessment" really means to you. How do you define assessment of student learning? What do you think are good measures of measuring student learning and/or evaluating a course?

Here are some open source assessment links available on the web to help to think about defining, designing, implementing and integrating assessment/evaluation

First, think about assessment as a continuous cycle Links to an external site., not something that is once and done. The diagram to the right is a concise representation of what an assessment cycle is.

Second, when doing assessment think multiple measures - you should not just use one measure or type of assessment and you should decide what type of assessment to use based on your objectives/outcomes

Download this chart Links to an external site.that describes different ways of measuring learning and may help you select the right assessment tool for the job (From the University of Connecticut)

Visit the University of Connecticut Assessment Primer website Links to an external site. (see graphic to the right) and read about direct and indirect measures of assessment, qualitative and quantitative assessment measures, and everything you always wanted to know about using rubrics for assessment

Read about the Nine principles of best practice for assessing student learning (AAHE) that are seminal best practices for assessing student learning

Third,use BOTH Formative and Summative assessment strategies

Here are a few videos about why to consider formative assessment and examples of formative assessment strategies and a link to some examples of both
Links to an external site.

Great description of the difference between formative and summative assessment Links to an external site.

2 examples of formative assessment CATs or Classroom Assessment Techniques Links to an external site.
Information about CATS Links to an external site.from George Washington University
Here are a list of 50 more CATs
(or Classroom assessment techniques)

Now Evaluation

What is the difference between assessment and evaluation Links to an external site.?

In education, both assessment and evaluation can focus on teaching and learning, but they have different purposes

Think of evaluation as looking at the process of implementation (in our case, measuring how we implemented the flipped classroom this Teach Flipped MOOC or how you implement flipping in your course) and not just looking at what the students learned in the flipped classroom. However ,the final grades of a student in a course can be used as one measure for evaluating the overall process. Evaluation is more judgmental.

Think of assessment as focusing on outcomes and if outcomes laid out were achieved. Assessment is more iterative and used to improve learning and used to measure progression of learning. Here is a brief video that talks about evaluation.

- program/project or curriculum evaluation (judgements about the process and the the bigger outcomes) Links to an external site.

Now, sum it up, and share your ideas with others in the class:

Reflect on formative and summative assessment strategies
you use in your teaching. Share your favorite strategies.
If you were going to evaluate your flipped classroom what is one
aspect of the flipped classroom you would want to evaluate?
Post your thoughts on the Flipped Classroom HERE

into the additional parts of module 6

Module 6B: Aligning assessment and your flipped activities

Module 6C: Developing an evaluation plan for continuous improvement of your flip