Module 2 - Assessment in E-Learning

Week two of Assessment in E-Learning has begun!! 

Before I begin discussing this week's topic, blogging, I would like to start with some results from last week's assignments. During week one, we were assigned to interview someone from our online class in an effort to get to know our fellow learners. Here is what my partner learned about me:

Why did you choose to take this course?

Kelly decided to complete the UW Stout Online Teaching Certificate.

What is your chosen profession? Where are you currently working?

Kelly has been a Communication Instructor at Mid-State Technical College since August 2011 and prior to that, she taught at for 4 years at Winona State University and part-time at Augsburg College. While at WSU that she became fascinated with incorporating new software and technology into the classroom. WSU is a laptop campus and she had the chance to take great technology focused workshops while she was there.

How will this course help your career and/or your students?
Kelly believes it will look great on the resume in the future, two of the courses count for her WTCS certification, and she is hoping to roll two of the classes into the Ed.D program in the future.

What is your favorite travel location? Why?
Kelly loves to travel. Her favorite location is Ireland, but she has always wanted to see Seattle. She has not been to Washington yet, but it is on her list!! Another favorite is Washington D.C.! She has been there 4 times and has not seen everything yet.

Now, onto blogging......

As a Written Communication instructor, I am very excited to talk about blogs.  Blogs are an excellent tool to display student work, they are easy to create, and allow for constructive feedback.  Since blogs can be displayed to the general public, students are more motivated to edit and perfect their writing.  The final advantage is the ability to embed links, videos, photos, and other interactive tools.  

In an effort to share with others in my assessment class, I will first briefly discuss the blog that I compiled in conjunction with the annual MSTC Mock Trial last semester.  Then I will discuss the required readings from module two and provide my reflection on said readings.  Finally, I will conclude with a very brief update on my garden.  

MSTC Mock Trial Blog…….

Every spring, the Introduction to Government students on the Mid-State Technical College’s Stevens Point Campus create and present a mock trial at the Portage County Courthouse.   In the past, students in the Introduction to College Writing course conducted interviews and created a newspaper after the trial.  This year, as a new communication instructor to the organization, I was asked if my students and I would like to participate in the trial. 

Therefore, I decided my contribution would be to enhance the current project by infusing it with new technology to generate more student interest and increase student engagement.  I thought a blog would be a fun, interactive way for students to display their work!  My students contributed by creating video clips, taking photos, writing blog articles, and by tweeting during the event. 

Since I was hesitant the first year to assess their work in blog form, my students were given a pass/fail grade or extra credit for contributing to the blog.  I was presented with this opportunity about two months prior to the event thus I was unable to build it into my course syllabus.

I submitted the results of the project to the Wisconsin Council of English Teachers Conference in Madison in October.  I am hoping to present a workshop sharing the information I gleaned from conducting this project.  To learn more about how my students participated in the project, you can read my submission to the conference. 

Module Two Readings……

There was a lot to read this week, but it was all very interesting.  I have struggled all week on what to say about blogs, assessment and technology.  I did not feel I had any huge "aha" moments, but did great blog idea from another student about using a blog to showcase the importance of communication skills, public speaking and/or writing skills.  I could have students create the blog in my Oral/Interpersonal Communication or my Written Communication course.  Students could interview professionals in their chosen fields and post video testimonials highlighting the importance of communication skills in their jobs.  I also contacted other communication colleagues from other states already to see if they or their students would like to contribute and create content.  I think it would be need to have a blog where students from three different states collaborate to together to add content and provide constructive feedback! At the end of the week, I finally decided to discuss authentic assessment in my discussion posting since it is the majority of the assessment I do in communication studies courses. I discussed the time management challenges that often face instructors.

Garden update!

This week, I added wooden cages to help support my 18 tomato plants.  As educators, we also need to support students in a positive way and ensure that their assessment also contains positive messages, as well as, constructive criticism.  If educators do not support and encourage student learning, students will become frustrated and will disengage from the course.