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Participative Assessment in the Online Environment

Kevin R. Duffy, M.A.Ed.

School of Emergency Services

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So Am I Wasting My Time Here?So Am I Wasting My Time Here?• What you will learn:– F2F classroom assessment based on• Quizzes and tests• Projects• Papers• Attendance

– Online assessment CAN be based on more than that!

– Your design can help increase participation

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What is What is ““Participative Assessment?Participative Assessment?””

• Assessment strategy based on– Encouraging participation– Decreasing emphasis on quizzing and testing– Increasing emphasis on application of concepts– Increasing student-to-student communication– Encouraging ‘discovery learning strategies’

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““Discovery Learning?Discovery Learning?””

• Rather than being told, students “discover” what they learn

• Lead them to the learning, let them think!

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Design StrategiesDesign Strategies

• Cohort design with modules/units each week– Reading assignments– Discussion items• Early completion of initial post• Later followup

– Chat• Late in the week• Required if used• Preview the topic

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Discussion DesignDiscussion Design

• The key is APPLICATION– Don’t ask for definitions or out-of-the-book info– Examples:• Given (this information), how would it work in (this

information)?• How would you apply (this information) to your (work,

family, etc.)?• “Take a position regarding (this thing) and defend it.

Then challenge others and defend your position against others’ challenges.”

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Chat DesignChat Design

• Students submit questions in advance– Set parameters for questions– Submission of questions earns a grade point

• If used, require attendance– If it is not required, students will not attend

• Late in the week

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Quiz and Test DesignQuiz and Test Design

• Test items based on readings– Test vocabulary, simple concepts– Point students to readings, important concepts and

terms

• De-emphasize reliance on tests– Students may just take tests and ignore

participation if tests get enough points for a passing grade

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Term Paper DesignTerm Paper Design

• Purpose is to build upon and apply concepts learned

• Required to be submitted - cannot pass without it

• May require an approved topic– In the first two weeks, submit a topic for approval– Gets them thinking about the application project

early

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Alternate to Term PaperAlternate to Term Paper

• Individual Assignments– Require research– Require critical thinking– Require application of concepts– Focused

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Grading StrategiesGrading Strategies

• Quizzes: Formative evaluation– Check for understanding and practice test, low

credit percentage

• Mid-Term and Final Examination– Required to be completed– Low percentage of final grade - no more than 40%

of the final grade

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Grading StrategiesGrading Strategies

• Term Paper– Topic approval• Chooses topic, defends choice, submits possible

reference sources

– Grading rubric based on• Content• Format• Originality• Application

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Discussion ParticipationDiscussion Participation

• Grading based on:– Quality– Timeliness– Adherence to rules and format– Response to others

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Chat ParticipationChat Participation

• Grading based on:– Thoughtful question submission– Thoughtful responses– Participation

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Overall Grading SummaryOverall Grading Summary

• Percentages– Quizzes and exams: not more than 40%– Discussion and chats: not less than 35%– Term paper including topic submission: not more

than 20%

• Requirements– Must not skip activities to get a minimum grade

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PitfallsPitfalls

• More difficult to grade• Some students will not realize the grading

scheme until it is too late– Online students may not read the requirements or

the syllabus– Bad designs have created lazy students

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What the Education?What the Education?

Education requires providing the learner every opportunity to learn. That work goes beyond the science and includes the human side of the equation.

Structure – Process- Outcome

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CaptologyCaptology

• “Computers As Persuasive Technologies”• Design, research, and analysis of computers

created to change the attitudes and behaviors of people through interactivity. (BJ Fogg)

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Motivation / Ability / TriggerMotivation / Ability / Trigger

• Put hot triggers in the path of motivated people.

Here’s a scary fact! Our children are predicted to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. Where do you think our healthcare system has contributed to this and how can a healthcare system address it?

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A Tale of Two SchoolsA Tale of Two Schools

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Credit hours

Class length

Required posts per

week

# of students

(Wk 2)

Total # of posts (Wk 2)

Average posts

(Wk 2)

School A 4 6 wks 12 10 159 15.9

School B 5 6 wks 2 28 93 3.3

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Learning PyramidLearning Pyramid

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A Tale of Two SchoolsA Tale of Two Schools

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Credit hours

Class length

Required posts per

week

# of students

(Wk 2)

Total # of posts (Wk 2)

Average posts

(Wk 2)

School A 4 6 wks 12 10 159 15.9

School B 5 6 wks 2 28 93 3.3

2323

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Behavioral ChangeBehavioral Change

• Remembering and understanding are insufficient to establish and maintain behavior change.

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A Tale of Two SchoolsA Tale of Two Schools

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Credit hours

Class length

Required posts per

week

# of students

(Wk 2)

Total # of posts (Wk 2)

Average posts

(Wk 2)

School A 4 6 wks 12 10 159 15.9

School B 5 6 wks 2 28 93 3.3

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Conclusion Conclusion Online Learning & Online Learning &

ParticipationParticipation• Brings people, information & ideas together• How to influence participation?– Helps students rehearse a behavior– Opportunity to model target behavior and attitude – Provide social support in a comfortable, safe

environment– Practice builds bridges to problem-solving

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Conclusion Conclusion Participative AssessmentParticipative Assessment

• Encourage participation and interaction• Provide opportunities for higher level thinking

and input• Provide opportunities for students to develop

their own ideas and express them• Grade them on their participation

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But wait…there’s more…But wait…there’s more…

• Something we didn’t tell you!– School A – higher participation – has NO TESTS and

a very difficult FINAL APPLICATION PROJECT– School B – lower participation – has three quizzes

and two short papers at the end– Both schools grade participation about 60%

• School A has better participation and application because the online environment was designed to demand it

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Contact Us!Contact Us!

• Kevin Duffy– 386.547.9625– KRDuffy@me.com or DuffyK@DaytonaState.edu

• QUESTIONS?

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