Module 3 – Blog Post
Assessing Collaborative Efforts
Assessment in collaborative learning communities can be challenging. Dr. Siemens suggested several ways you can be assessed in learning communities: peers assessing peers, online communities (list serve), student contributions (wikis), learning management systems (metrics) (Siemens, 2009). Instructors need to keep the following things in mind about assessments: fair and direct, based on stated outcomes and equitable (Siemens, 2009). Instructors also have to consider a students growth throughout the course.
In collaborative groups deadlines and guidelines should be determined in accordance with all group members. The instructor should certainly retain the determination about what to assess, how to assess it, and how to respond to any evaluation material gathered through the reflective material submitted by students (Palloff & Pratt, 2005, p. 44). If a group member doesn’t participate according to guidelines, the group should notify the instructor. Other team members should pick up the slack and complete the assignment as planned. The instructor will handle the non-participating team member according to policy.
I found a blog that said that online learning environment should be structured in five different ways: mentorship, blogs, discussion/list serve, archived knowledge, tutorials (Blanche, 2003). I think this is a good way to narrow your search time down. I feel that having a questionnaire/survey for each member to fill out; is ways to have teams get to know their colleagues and their abilities.
References:
Palloff, M., & Pratt, K. (2005). Collaborating Online: Learning Together in Community. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Siemens, G. (2009). Learning Communities. Retrieved October 9, 2009 from the EDUC-7102-2/EDUC-8842-2 Principles of Distance Education Web site: Retrieved on October 9, 2009 from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=3649021&Survey=1&47=5
Blanche, M.T. (2002) Collaborative Learning Environments. Retrieved on October 9, 2009 from http://collab.blogspot.com/2003_09_14_archive.html#106378130347695811#106378130347695811
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hi Kayla,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the groups dealines and guidelines should be in accordance with all group members. When I was working on my Masters degree online, I was constantly placed into groups where there was one team member who always wanted to be in control and whatever rules were set were non-negtiable. Everyone should have a voice when working in a collaborative group.