EDU 633: Assessment Blog

As noted by Walvoord & Anderson (1998), evolution of mobile and online education has revolutionized and introduced challenges for assessment, therefore, new technology and the exponential growth of information are creating alternative paths to learning and are thus, bringing a revolution, such as cusp of cloud computing (or networked services) in the educational sphere. Cloud computing simply means documents and data are not physically stored on your own device. They are stored on servers that can be accessed by all of your devices and platforms (iPad, Android, laptop, desktop, etc.)

Another is Apple’s iCloud Photo Stream which allows instant image sharing to multiple devices and platforms. A nice feature for families and educators is the ability to add comments and have a private discussion around any image — with no additional effort or cost.  Also, blogs that  encourage learners to reflect, communicate, write and critically analyze information while building a resource for others to follow. Evernote provides access to all of your documents from many different devices. Its uses are limited only by your imagination! As a class resource, it is an example of how new technology can make the development of a class blog as easy as creating an email address. Any teacher or student given the unique Evernote email address can email items directly to the shared “blog.” (Walvoord & Anderson ,1998).

However, the current online and mobile assessment methods being used and what is there effectiveness, are cloud applications such as Evernote, that can build in conversations, connectivity and collaboration, and create a real sense of community in our courses. Notebooks can be shared between users, offered as RSS feeds and remain available forever. All students can contribute expertise, reflections, links, images, webpage’s, documents, media and files to shared Evernote spaces. All posts, images and documents can be shared, searched and tagged. More importantly, student participation can continue long after graduation. Imagine starting a course and having access to professional minds and different points of view from all of those who went before you and who are now in the workplace (Walvoord & Anderson ,1998).

How should online learners be assessed? The online instructional delivery method should be used to facilitate teaching and promote learning. Online assessment must be used to measure both learning objectives and application of knowledge. The online educator should use assessment techniques to strategically reflect the pedagogy. As noted by Walvoord & Anderson (1998), "assessment is most effective when it reflects an understanding of learning as multidimensional, integrated, and revealed in performance over time" (p. 189). Therefore there are challenges, which includes much of the assessment is not dependable and the motivating of many students. Therefore we should make sure all assesements are dependable as well as motivating the students that are at work.

References

Angelo, T. A., & Cross, K. P. (1993). Classroom Assessment Techniques: A Handbook for College

     Teachers, 2Ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

 Walvoord, B.E., & Anderson, V. J. (1998). Effective Grading: A Tool for Learning and

     Assessment. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Inc.