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Assessment Ideas for Online Education

Many of the assessments that teachers use in the face-to-face classroom can be utilized in the online classroom. Plus, there are creative ways that are unique to online education to effectively assess student learning.

  1. Oral Exams: Have students orally respond to exam questions synchronously by using technology such as Zoom. Oral exams can also take place asynchronously by using technology such as Voicethread.
  2. Traditional Formal Exams: Utilize the technology that is built into a Learning Management System to draft traditional formal exams. Remember to utilize a healthy mix of true/false, multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer and essay in order to utilize multiple levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
  3. Student Choice: Provide students with the freedom to demonstrate their mastery of skills by creating their own projects. Ideas could include a student-created video tutorial, a visual graph or display of knowledge, creative writing or spoken word.
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Student Success Strategies: Online Learning

Many students will be learning online this fall. Course design and teaching strategies can support student learning and success in the virtual classroom. Below is a list of three strategies educators can implement to help students succeed:

  1. Check for student understanding: Utilize assessments and assignments that are low stakes and provide an opportunity to assess student learning. Address any misconceptions or gaps in learning before students take a formalized assessment.
  2. Consistency: Keep the online classroom consistent across each unit so that students know what to expect and where to find important information.
  3. Lived experiences: Allow students to bring their personal worldviews and lived experiences to the online classroom. Discussion boards and reflection papers are great opportunities for students to connect what they are learning to what they have experienced.

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Book List: Innovation

Educators have become innovative during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to keep students learning and succeeding. Innovation is a skill that can be developed; it just takes a little practice. The books listed below have inspired me to practice my innovation skills this Fall.

Schrage, M. (2014).The innovator’s hypothesis: How cheap experiments are worth more than good ideas. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. ISBN-13:978-0262028363

Christensen, C. M. (2011).The innovator’s DNA: Mastering the five skills of disruptive innovators. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Press. ISBN 978-1-4221-3481-8

Drucker, P, Christiansen, C. & Govindarajan, V. (2013). HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Innovation. Boston,MA: Harvard Business Review Press. ISBN-13: 9781422191507

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Three Best Practices: Online Education

The start of school is just around the corner for many students. Education and classrooms may look different this year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online education is a viable option for quality learning experiences. Below is a list of three best practices for those who are teaching online this year:

  1. Engagement: Create opportunities for collaboration. Utilize discussion boards, group work and learning technology that allows for students to interact with peers.
  2. Communication: Provide clear expectations and instructions to reduce confusion. Reach out to individual students to check for understanding, clarify misconceptions and provide feedback.
  3. Instructor Presence: Connect with students by posting a welcome video, giving timely feedback and hosting virtual office hours.

What best practices do you use in your online classroom? Join the conversation by leaving a comment.