ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.

DattaKaurKhalsa Week Eight Reflection Discourse Analysis March 1, 2014 Here we are finishing our last week today, and while I am relieved, I will miss the discourse and quality of learning I found here. I continually felt both the push to improve and the pull to be proud of myself from everyone in class, but especially through the leadership of Datta Kaur and Marilyn. The quote shared this week was a nice one to leave with. It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. ~Aristotle It is appropriate for the topic this week, Discourse Analysis. However, it is also a meaningful sentiment to take away into an online world where learning surely will continue and thoughts to entertain will absolutely be abundant. Our last learning objectives were as follows: Present personal e-portfolio to others in the class. Analyze and compare classmates assessment toolbox research and plans to your own. Synthesize final instructor and peer feedback into a final draft of your summative project. Provide reflective appraisal of course effectiveness through completion of post course survey. It has been very enjoyable to view my classmates final projects. There is so much talented output and I have gained ideas that I would like to utilize in the future. I received valuable feedback from them as well, both positive and constructive. I am momentarily frustrated because my free trial access to my website is suspended. I will be calling Google shortly and hope to get that straightened out before tonight. I am worried I will not be able to keep my access as an individual, though I have paid for a yearly subscription! I have created a rubric to post there when I can. While writing the ruric, I found it challenging to describe the graded sequence of the segments in a way that was objective. Specifically defining an Advanced, Proficient, Basic and Minimal study space for Clean and Comfortable or Distraction-Free was interesting. I am proud of the results. I will be completing the post course surveys for Dr. Khalsa and UW-Stout, but would rate this great learning experience now- Advanced. Thank you to my instructors and classmates!

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa WeekSevenReflection SummativeAssessment February24,2014 Thisweekwepresentedourfinalprojectsandorganizedtheseweeksoflearningintoaviewable product.IdesignedawebsiteonGoogleSiteswhichlinkedmyworkthroughoutthecourseinan exampleofafuturestudyskillsonlineclass.Ilearnedmanynewthingsabouttechnology logisticsintheprocess,butalsoenhancedmyunderstandingofassessmentinanonline environment.ThequotethatDr.Khalsasharedthisweekwasappropriateasalways. Education is a process of living and not a preparation for future living ~Dewey ThefinalprojectalsorevealedmanythingsIhaveyettolearnandwanttopursue.Iamfinding onlinetechnologytobeaveryexcitingnewinterestforme.ThisclasshasopenedadoorthatI hadonlypeekedthroughbefore.NowIhavethedesireandconfidencetopushthroughany barriers.Recognizingthewaysthistechnologycanimprovelearningassessmentwillbea continuingintrigue. OurModuleSeven:SummativeAssessmentlearningobjectiveswereasfollows: Presentfinalconsolidationofpersonalassessmenttoolbox(finalproject)tothe class. Analyzeuseofgradebooksoftware. Introducedtosoftwareevaluationprocedure. Selfassesspersonallearningapplicationtothefinalproject. Becauseofpersonalstressors,finishingthefinalprojectontimewasquiteanexperience.Ido notthinkIhavepushedthathardsincemymoreyouthful,extremeprocrastinationdays! BecauseIcaresomuchmoreaboutthedetailsthanIwouldhavebackthen,itwasaparticularly intensedemandonmyselfwhichIvaluedthewholetime.Iwasreallyabletodiveinand immersecompletelyinwhatIwaslearning.Ialsowasabletoremembersomeofwhatitislike tobeinmystudentsshoes.Theironyofconsideringhowtoteachtimemanagementwasnot lostonme,andIamkeenlyawarethat,likeme,mystudentsoftendonothavecompletecontrol overtheirtimedemands.IthinktheportionsofthecourseIdesignedbecamemoreauthenticas aresult. Inpreviousprofessionalwork,Ihaveneededtodesignmyowngradebooklayout.Ihaveused MicrosoftExceltodothis.However,IwasveryexcitedtobegiventhearticleExcelfor Beginners:UsingSpreadsheetstoCreateInteractiveGradeBooksbyLorrieJacksonbecausea beginnerisexactlywhatIam.IroutinelyborrowtemplatesfromMicrosoft.comandattempttofit themtomyneeds.IfIneedtodevelopsomethingofmyownfromscratchIambadgeringmy momforhelp,abookkeeperwhoworkswithmindblowingspreadsheetsdaily.Thisarticleis anotherwonderfultooltobeabletotakewithme.Iappreciatedthestepbystepinformation.Also valuableistheexamplegradebooklayout.

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa Thesoftwareandwebsiteevaluationformsthatwereviewedwillbeveryusefultotakewithus fromthisclass.Itprovidescarefulandsystematicmethodstodecide,ofalltheoptionsthatwill beavailabletous,whatwillbemostbeneficialtoourstudentslearningandourown assessmentofthatlearning.Thisliteratureisanothergreatitemtoaddtoourtoolbox. Finally,weassessedourownworkonthefinalprojectaccordingtotherubricfortheproject. Thisselfreflectionprovidedaneffectivewrapupforme.Itwasvaluabletomethodicallyreview mywork,notjustformyselfbutforsomeoneelsetoo.Asastudent,theprocessputsalenson theselfreviewthatmademeconsidermyhonestyfromadifferentangle.Additionalclosurewill comewhenthesummativeassessmentprocessiscompleteandIhavereceivedfeedbackfrom myinstructor,madeadjustments,andsubmittedthefinalproduct.However,Idontthinkthesite willeverbefinishedbecauseevenonceitisreadyforpublicationasacourse,Illalwaysbe lookingforwaystoimproveit.Afterall,ongoingisthepointoflearning,isitnot?

WeekSixReflection CyberCoachingAnEmergingModel February17,2014 ThisweekwelearnedaboutCybercoachingandcreatedanonlinesurveytoincludeinour coursedesign.Wearegatheringallthatwehavelearnedintoonefinalproject.Therefore, becauseIhavelearnedsomuch,IthoughtthisweeksquotefromDr.Khalsawasfunandfitting. (Funbecauseitalsorelatestosomecurrentprofessionalexperiencesanditisalwaysniceto validated.) The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. ~Alvin Toffler Ihavealwaysenjoyedandcaughtontotechnologytools(thoughtnotaseasilyassomeyounger thanme).However,Ihavedonesoasneeded.Thisclasshasfilledinsomanygapsforme.The amountthatIhavelearnedabouttoolsonlinehascausedmetorethinkhowteachingcanbe done,andthereforeIhavebeguntorelearnmyapproachtoteaching,learning,andassessment. OurModuleSixObjectivesrelatedtothesurveyIdeveloped,acasestudychallengethatutilized cybercoaching,andthepreparationofourfinalprojects. Display authentic use of online survey software. Develop a pre-course survey that can be applied to your online course. Evaluate, compare and discuss a course case study that includes cyber-coaching. Consolidate learning in preparation for development of your final project. Myonlinesurveycanbeviewedbelow.IusedGoogleFormstocompleteit.Ihadsometrouble withthelink/embed/uploadtomyblogbutfinallyfiguredoutthatIneededtouncheckaboxin

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa Googleforittoappeartootherusersotherthanme.UsingYouTubeasmytutor,thewhole processwasveryeasy.IwelcomedtheopportunitytodigintoGoogleAppssomemore. Overall,itwasanotherweekinwhichIlearnedmuch.InanothercourseIexploredWeb2.0tools andwasabletoprovidesomelinksforthecasestudyfromthatlearning.Iviewedsome examplesoffinalprojectsandamexcitedtoorganizealloftheknowledgeIhavegainedinsuch aconcisepresentation.IwilllikelygobacktomyfavoritepageofGoogleiconstogetstartedon theformat!

WeekFiveReflection TaxonomyofAssessment February9,2014 Thisweekwecreatedataxonomytableforanonlinecoursewearedeveloping(oralready teach).Wealsoinvestigatedhowtocombatplagiarismintheonlineenvironment.Myprojectsfor thisclasshaveallbeenaroundanOnlineStudySkillscourseIhopetoimplementinthefuture, andthisweekIusedtheseactivitiestocontinueintoits2ndunit.Dr.Khalsasopeningquotein theIntroductionofModule5readasfollows: (Blooms) taxonomy is not about the tools and technologies, these are just the medium, instead it is about using these tools to achieve, recall, understanding, application, analysis, evaluation and creativity ~Churches, 2009 ThiswasquiteappropriateasIexperiencedtheprocessofcreatingmyTaxonomyTable.Many timesinthiscourseIhavefocusedonlearningaboutwhattechnologiesexist,howtheyfunction, andhowIcanlearnhowtousethem,particularlyforassessment.ApplyingBloomscategories broughtallofthatthinkingfullcircleandbacktothebigpicture.Technologyisanenhancement thatcanimproveupondesignthatisalreadyrootedincomplexlearning.Thiswasevidentinthe completionofourfirstlearningobjective. Illustrate understanding of the taxonomy of assessment

Inaveryconciseandnecessaryway,thecreationofmytaxonomytablerequiredthisobjective tobemet. (WeekFiveReflectioncontinuedonnextpage.)

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa Whilemovingclosertoourfinalprojectandcompletingportionsofthatwholeasweprogress, thenexttwoModule5LearningObjectivesIwillchoosetoaddresstogether.Ifounditreassuring thatifthereisastrongpresenceofBloomsLevelsofCompetencyinthecoursedesign,thereis littleroomforplagiarismtotakeroot. Classify OTL plagiarism conditions and design preventative measures. Compose plans for complex learning integration to OTL assessment choices. PlanningformultifacetedlessonsthatincorporateasmuchofBloomsLevelsofUnderstanding aspossible,thatarelearnercenteredandactivelyengagingforthestudentshouldmake plagiarismdifficultforastudenttocommit.However,Ivaluedtheresourcesmadeavailableto educatemyselfonhowtowatchanddetectforit. Lastly,thoughitwasthefirstthingItackledinthismodule,wasourparticipationinaCaseStudy Challengewithoneofourclassmates.Webrainstormedonsomedilemmaspresentedbyreal worldonlineteachingexperiences. Evaluate and discuss course case studies to determine learning of objectives, activities, and taxonomy of assessments.

IfoundRebeccascasestudytobeextremelychallenging.Itwassuchapleasuretothink throughtheitemssherequestedourhelpwith.However,Iwastrulystumpedatthebeginningof theweektosupplysuggestions.IhonestlyfeelthatIwasnotabletooffermuchhelp.However, thatisthetrulywonderfulthingaboutcollaboration.Othersofferedsomeveryusefulsuggestions andIwasabletolearnquiteabitbybeingevenasmallpartofthediscussion.Soasisusual withgreatchallenges,Ifoundtheexperiencetobeveryvaluable. Inconclusionofthisweek,Iamgladtobereachingitsclose.Onapersonalnote,Istarted anothercourseinthisprogramonMondayandhavebeenlearningtobalanceandorganizeeach inmymind.Therewasalearningcurveformeatthebeginningofthiscoursetoadjusttoonline learning.IbeganvisualizingmycomputerandD2Lasmyclassroom.NowIamadjustingto findingawholeotherroomthere!Thisnewclassroomisasurprisinglydifferentenvironmentas itisledanddesignedbyadifferentinstructor.Iamfindingthatnuancetobeanadditional elementtomylearningfrombothclasses. OnwardtoModule6(orWeek2)dependingonwhichwindowIhaveopen!

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa WeekFourReflection VarietyofAssessmentTools February2,2014 ThisweekwecompletedourMidtermbycompilingaresearchedAssessmentToolboxwithour onlinejigsawgroups.Thisexperiencewasrewardingandproductivetomylearningonmany levels.Wecollaboratedacrosspersonalschedulesandtimezones.Weworkedalongsideeach otheronourpersonalcontributionswiththesupportofourteammates,butalsocametogetherin atruecollaborativefashiontosubmitourfinalgroupproject.ThequotefromAlbertEinstein sharedbyDr.KhalsawasveryfittingtoModule4: Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom. Thisistrueespeciallybecausethevalueofworkingautonomouslysupportsindividuals strengthsandprovidesopportunitiesforuniqueabilitiestocontributetogreatresults.However,if thatlaborinfreedomdoesnotjoinalargermovement,itoccursinavacuuminvain.Therefore, projectssuchasthisJigsawAssessmentarerewardingtotheindividual,thesmallgroupand thewholeclass. OurModuleFourLearningObjectiveswereasfollows: Consolidatecourseassessmentresearch. Analyzeandselectbestpersonalassessmenttools. Integratecourselearningintoauthenticonlinecourseplanning. Constructanassessmenttoolboxthroughteammidterm. Evaluateselfandpeerteamskills.

Inastraightforwardmanner,eachofthesethingshavebeenaccomplished.IvaluewhatIhave learnedandcancontinuetolearnfrombothmyteammatesandclassmateschosentools.I alsohaveobservedattributesthatarenotdirectlyrelatedtotheassignmentthatIwishto emulateinmyfutureprofessionalgrowth.Theplanningofmyownonlinecoursehascontinued alongitspathtofruition,gainingmomentumwitheachpieceofknowledgelearnedandskill practiced. Threereadingsthisweekkeenlycaughtmyinterestbecauseoftheirrecognitionforthe possibilitiesandcapabilitiesofacompletelycustomizededucationforallstudents.Theyeach alsooutlinethebenefitsIdescribeexperiencinginthisweeksactivities:theindividuallearner activelyengagedintheirownprogressandlearning,buttheindividualalsocomingtogetherwith thewholegroupinacommunitythatvaluesthegreatergrowththiscouldhappeninthevirtualor facetofaceclassroomenvironment.Someinmydistrictarecallingthistheyearofthe paradigmswitchastheyrollouttheimplementationofourevidencebasedgradingrequirement. Therefore,Ifoundtheseconceptspersonallyinteresting.Theabundanceoftoolsonlineandthe abilitytoarrangetheminaplethoraofwaysisaperfectfitforthecasemanagementapproach wearetryingtoimplementinmycurrentworkoutsidetheclassroomforAtRiskstudents.

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa However,Iseethisasawonderfulfutureofallstudentslearningexperiences,asdothe contributorsforthesearticles.Hereisalinktothesereadings: AnIntroductiontoComprehensiveAssessment http://www.edutopia.org/assessmentoverview OnlineEducationIsaNewWayofLearningandTeaching(Part2) http://www.edutopia.org/onlineeducationvirtualclassroomschallenges HowCustomizedLearningWillBenefitStudents http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tomvanderark/howcustomizedlearningw_b_844 264.html Overall,thematerialsandactivitiesusedthisweekmirrortheconcepttheyteachandportray.I foundtheexperienceofcompletingthismoduletohavelessoverlapthanothers.Itisdifficultto describehowthetasksfeltmoresegmentedandlessinterwoven.However,itwasobviousthat eachpartwasnotseparatefromanyother.Icouldsumupmyreflectionbystatingthatwhenthe individualthrives,thewholedoestoo.Eachlearnerisauniqueandnecessarypiecetocomplete thetotaljigsawpuzzle,whetheritbea12ctor5000ct!

WeekThreeReflection PerfectEStorm January27,2014 IAmInTheMidstofthatPerfectEStorm! ThisweekfeelsparticularlyhecticasIfinishupwiththeModule3ReadingsandActivities, collaboratewithmyteammembersontheMidterm,andtrytogetbacktoworkingaheadwith Module4.IwouldliketoreflectonhowIgothere,giventhatthecoursetopicImusinginthese recentplanningactivitiesisstudyskills.(Perhapsitwasmyslowreadingandnighttime exhaustionthisweek.)Eitherway,sometimesthebesttacticistojustbuckledown,doit,and moveon.Itwillbefittingthatthisweeksreflectionwillbemorefreeflowingandlessmeticulous thanotherweeks.IameventypingstraightontomyblogandnotbotheringwithWord!Watch OUT!!!! OurModule3Objectiveswereasfollows: Integratelearningobjectiveswithauthenticonlineassessment Diagramandmapcourseplansandassessmentpreferencesthroughthe useofmindmappingsoftware Coordinateandengageinvirtualteamwork Evaluateuseofthejigsawmethodasaformofonlineassessment Definefurtherassessmentterms ThisweekIhavethoughtaboutonlinecourseworkandhowitdiffersfromthelearning objectives,activities,andassessmentinafacetofaceclassroom.BackwardDesignand

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa LearnerCenteredactivitiesareequallyexecuted.However,thelearningprocessisenhancedin differentways.Insomeways,onlinelearningismorelearnercenteredbecausethestudent unavoidablyholdsmostofthereignsintheiracquisitionofknowledgeandunderstanding. WewroteanddiagrammedourownLearningObjectivesthisweek.Utilizingsoftwaretomap thesecourseplanswasanewexperienceforme.Iamverymuchavisualthinkersothiswas veryenjoyable.Itwasexcitingtoresearchallthedifferenttoolsavailableforplanningthisway.I choseCogglebecauseofitseaseandfreeaccess.However,Iwishitwerepossibletoconnect differentnodeswithmultiplebrancheslikeaweb,insteadofonlyextendingoutliketreelimbs.I willkeepresearching.AsmushasIlearnedaboutformattinginCogglesofar,itmightbe possibleandIjustdontknowit! WebeganworkonourJigsawMidtermthisweek.IwillberesearchingmoreGoogleappsthat canbeusedinmyevolvingStudySkillsCourse.Iamexcitedtolearnaboutthetopicsmyteam memberschoseandreadwhatothersintheclasscreate.Thisisagreatmethodtoworkwith otherstolearnaboutmultipletopics.Iwassurprisedthatitiseasierandmoreconvenient(asa student)todothissortofactivityonlinethanitisinafacetofacesetting.Itwilllikelybeavery rewardingexperience. WhenreviewingtheobjectivesIwroteearlierinthemodule,IcomparedtheverbsIusedtoalist ofmeasurabletermstouseinassessment(linkedbyDr.KhalsainModule2).Therewerea coupleIwishedIwouldhavewrittendifferentlyafterreviewingthatlist.ButasIsaidbefore,Ifeel asthoughIaminastormrightnow.Iwillnotdwellonitbutfixitinthefuture.Ilookforwardto continuingplansformyfuturecourse.Seeingthebeginningoutlineonmymindmapwas invigorating. ONWARD!!!

WeekTwoReflection EmergingPracticesofOnlineAssessment January18,2014 Thisweekinthecoursewefocusedonblogsandhowtheycanbeusedasassessment.Class discussionalsocoveredtopicsoninternetsafetyandprivacy,whatcomprisesauthentic assessmentandstudentcenteredlearningenvironments,overallpossibilitiesprovidedby blogging,andparticipatedinaninteractivequiz,Assessment:TeacherCenteredor LearnerCentered.ThequoteDr.Khalsasharedwithuspointsoutthenecessaryconnection betweenlearningobjectivesandassessment.Itappearsonourintroductionpageasfollows: There is a close and necessary relationship between what we choose to assess and what we value most in the education of our children. ~Shipman

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa Thediscussionthataroseaboutprivacyonlineandindividualscomfortlevelwithvariedamounts ofexposurerelatestothisidea.Imentionedagenerationalgapinwhatmostofourstudents seemtobecomfortableputtingoutthereanditwaseasilyagreedthatinternetsafetyisa necessaryandkeypartoftechnologyeducation.Wetouchedontheideathatwehavetobe carefultobepreciseinwhatweareincluding(intentionallyorunintentionally)inourlearning objectivesandassessments.Forexample:ifIamusingablogasateachingtool,isthelearning objectivetocreatealinkandpublishacoupletpoemforapublicaudience?Wouldthelevelof privacyeffectthequalityofthepoemonewayoranotherdependingontheindividual?Itwouldbe importanttodifferentiatetheseparateaspectsofthelearningobjectivesinassessment. Thelearningobjectivesthisweekwereaccomplishedwithactivitiespertainingtoblogsand learningobjects.Throughdiscussion,otheronlineinteraction,andourownblogsetupIhave mettheModule2goalsdescribedbyDr.Khalsa. 1. Distinguish between measurement, assessment and evaluation. Itisimportanttounderstandthedifferencebetweenthesetermsbecausetheyareclosely relatedbutnotequalconcepts.Whilecreatingourblogforthisclass,forexample,we aremeasuringwhatamountoftechnologywehaveinourskillset(eitherpreviouslyornewly acquired)aswesetouttocompletethespecificrequirements.Bytheactofpublishingeach partofourblogweareassessingourunderstandingofthecorrectapplications.Whenwe decideifwehaveachievedthedesiredresults,weareevaluatingourlearning.Eachtermisa nameforastepintheprocess. 2. Evaluate use of blogs in an online writing course. Blogscouldbeusedveryeffectivelyinanonlinewritingcourse.Thesimultaneouslyprovidethe learnerwithanopportunitytoimprovewritingskills,consideranaudiencewhilewriting,andapply contentknowledgewithmodernmediatoreallysituatethecontextofunderstandinginthereal world.Teachingwritingwithonlinetoolspreparesstudentswithallencompassingskillstheyll needtocommunicateeffectively. 3. Practice and demonstrate use of educational blogs as a collaborative, reflective assessment technique. IhavecreatedmyblogonWordPress.com.(http://nextblogtba.wordpress.com/)Itwillbeawork inprogressevenafterthiscourseiscompleted.Mybiggeststruggleatthemomentiscreating linksbutmygoalistocompletethistaskinthenexthour.Iamabletocreatehyperlinksinother formats,sowithpracticeinthisnewtomeformatIthinkmyefficiencywillgrowlessglitchy. Theopportunitytousethisasamediumformyownlearningandtotrackthatgrowthcouldbe appliedtoanyvarietyofportfolioprojectsformyfuturestudents.Ihaveappreciatedviewingmy classmatesblogsandeportfoliosasIvedevelopedmyownpages.IknowIhavealongwayto goanditisexcitingtoseewhatispossible.

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa 4. Formulate plans for a student-centered learning environment. OnethingthathasstruckmeasIobserveothersblogsandfoundmypersonalstrugglesasI createmyown,isthatOrganizationisextremelyimportantforPresentation.Ihavecapitalized OrganizationandPresentationasElementsofWriting.Theseconceptstakeonadifferenttwist withinthisformatcomparedtoatypedessayonemighthandinonaprintedpieceofpaper.This wouldbeaninterestingwayforstudentstoexplore6TraitsWriting,thusimprovingtheirwriting andcommunicationinalltheirclassesacrossthecurriculum. 5. Design learning objectives that are connected to authentic assessment techniques. Thiscouldbeafinalprojectforaunitonanovel: Usingablogyouhavecreated,designasummaryofHuckleberryFinnbyMarkTwainusing yourownwritingandlinksorpostswithimages/videos/music. Inconclusion,thisModule2hasbeenevenmoreinformativethanthelast.Continuingtousethe wikiandblogasweheadintoModule3issomethingIlookforwardto.Iamexcitedto experience,withmyfreshandnewindividualskills,howIcancoordinatewithateamonlineto producelearningproducts.

WeekOneReflection WhyIsAssessmentImportant? January12,2014 ToreflectonthisfirstweekIhaveparticipatedinAssessmentInELearning(ModuleOne),I decidedtorefertothestart:theintroductionthatwasprovidedbytheinstructor,DattaKaur Khalsa.ShesharedthefollowingquotewhichIthinkprovidesagoodbase(alongwiththe courseobjectives)tocontemplatewhereIvebeen,whereIam,andwhereImgoinginthis experience: If assessment is to be a positive force in education, it must be implemented properly. It cannot be used to merely sort students or criticize education. Its goals must be to improve education. Rather than teach to the test, we must test what we teach.(Lockwood & McLean) Ihavethoughtoftenthisweekaboutwhatitmeanstobeaneducatorwithinthemidstofthis particularchange,orshift,inhowwetestorassess,especiallygiventhecurrentpoliticalclimate inWisconsinandournation(atleast).Ithinkitispartlyashifttosimplyviewassessmentasa positivething.Ofcourseitisbeneficialandgood,butmanydonotthinkfavorablyof assessments(asinYay!Weretakingatesttoday!orIamjustsoexcitedtodomyfinal

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa project!ImsohappyIgettocompleteone!).Ihavetoliterallychasestudentsdownandwalk themthroughthedoorwhentheyneedtocompletethedistrictassessments.Yes,assessment needstobeapositiveforceineducationifitwillworkwell,meaningitneedstobeproductive andenhancelearningasitmeasuresit.However,Ithinkpartofthatshiftwillmeanthat(because itisapositiveforce)itwillbelikedandappreciatedbystudents(andteachers)aswell.Iam thinkingnowofBuhagiarsviewoftheclassroomasalearningcommunity.Particularlyinan onlinecommunity,ifastudentdoesnotfeelconnectedwithinthecommunityandfurthermore harborsnegativityintheirdispositiontowardlearning,thatstudentcouldbelostatevenafaster pacethaninafacetofaceclassroomsetting. The first module objective is to: Define, compare and contrast standardized and alternative assessment techniques. ThroughthereadingsIhavereviewedthesetwoformsofassessmentandthroughdiscussions wehavecomparedandcontrastedthem.Theideathatstandardizedandalternative assessmentsdonothavetobeoppositional,thattheycancomplementandenhanceeach other,wasreassuringtome.Idonotthinkwehavecompletelyachievedthatidealyet,butby continuingtobuildthepresenceofconstructivistapproaches,Ithinkwewillsucceed.IfeelIhave aworkingknowledgeoftheinterplaybetweentheseformats.However,Iamstillseekingto improvemyunderstandingbyrealizingaconcreteideaofwhattheidealwouldactuallylooklike. The second module objective is to: Illustrate the roll of formative and summative assessment in an online course and program. Againthroughthereadingsanddiscussions,Ihaveexploredformativeandsummative assessmenttopics.Ihavethoughtoftenaboutmydistrictsnewgradingsystemandthe resultingchangesoccurringinmystudentsclassroomsasperfectexamplesoftherollthese assessmentsplayinqualitylearning.WhenIworkwithmystudentsthataretakingonline courses,theysometimesneedaquizortestresetbecausetheydidnotearnahighenough percentageonmultipleattempts.WhenIhavethemgobackfurtherandredotheactivities leadinguptothequizortest(withmorecareandeffort),theirscoresalwaysimprovebyalarge amount.IfeelthisisanexampleoftheseassessmentsinanonlinesettingIamexposedto. However,IamexcitedtoapplytheseconceptstosomethingImightdesigninthefuture. The third module objective is to: Interpret and practice the use of a wiki as an online assessment tool. Ienjoyedthewikiactivityverymuch.Ihaveworkedwithstudentsandtheirteacherswhoare usingthese.However,Ididnothavethesameaccess.Thiswasaniceopportunityformeto getmyhandsonsomethingIwasfamiliarwithbuthadnothadtheopportunitytousebefore.I amexcitednowtoputmyknowledgetogoodapplicationformyownsetofstudentlearning objectives.

ReflectiveJournalofJessicaSchilling UniversityofWisconsinStout AssessmentInELearning(EDUC762) InstructorDr.DattaKaurKhalsa The fourth module objective is to: Practice and demonstrate use on an online interview and discussion as informal assessment techniques. ThiswasanotheractivityIenjoyed.TheinterviewIconductedwithDavidSinkeyaffordedmethe opportunitytoexploresomenewappsthatIhadntbeenawareofbefore,notonlybyhis suggestionbutotherstoo.Readingthepostsonthediscussionboardwasthebestwayto immersemyselfintothisclass.AftercompletingUWStoutsonlineorientationandpoking aroundontheclasssitewhenDr.Khalsaopeneditearly,thiswasawaytoreallygetgoing withoutmytrainingwheelsnavigatingaroundandaccessingthethingsIllbeneeding throughoutthenextweeks. Asweclosethefirstweek,IammostexcitedIlearnedaboutthewiki.Iamlookingforwardtothe bloginweektwoevenmore.Itwillbeexcitingtoseehowthetworelatetoeachother,andIwill contemplatewayseachtoolcouldbegreatforstudentsinuniqueways.