The virtual world is changing more than just the way in which we learn and how we learn, but also the way in which we assess. Placing a grade on a students ability to regurgitate facts will not promote student growth. In fact, our world is so complex, it is very difficult for us to grade students on their isolated accomplishments. We are having to work together more and more in order to solve 21st century problems. So, the question is, how then do we put a grade in the grade book for student work. What do we assess? If we can use technology in our learning, we can also use technology in our assessment. George Siemens gives several suggestions that will aide in our ability to grade students on their individual efforts toward a project. The first is for students to peer grade. Peer grading allows members of the group to comment on the contributions of the other members and evaluate that contribution as being significant (Laureate, 2008). He also suggests "encouraging members to participate in open communities" (Laureate, 2008). Open communities are environments that allow participation and feedback (Laureate, 2008).
I love the idea of creating a community for feedback. Besides the forms of assessment George Siemens discusses, what are some other forms of assessment you think will be critical in the virtual setting?
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2008). (n.d.). Learning Communities.
I agree with you and Dr. Seimens, In the assignements where I used groups and peer to peer assessments, the students were grading each other pretty accurately, the seemed to take pride in the fact they had some control of the grades.
ReplyDeleteI have not done a great deal with peer grading, believing middle school students might not take it seriously. At the end of this past term I decided to try it. They worked in groups, and after they did their presentations I had them complete a self and peer review. I was impressed; they were very honest about evaluating themselves, and their comments about how their group members worked were also honest, but fair. I was also surprised that even when they gave a negative comment about someone else's work, they attempted to find a reason or explanation for why that person might not have done as much as they should.
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