Team Member D1 – Michelle Cosner Alignment of Unit Goals to the evaluation process
Tech Savvy Academy had three unit goals for our instructional modules:
1) Describe the difference between Skype, Podcasts and Blogs,
2) Use Skype, Podcasts and Blogs in your lesson plans
3) Increase student engagement through the use of these resources
It is critical to use evaluation to determine if the course is teaching what it is suppose to. (Morrison, 2011) To begin our instructional modules we would provide an overview and clear idea of what we want our students to learn. As part of this first introduction and part of our evaluation plan we would pre-test students to gauge knowledge and familiarity with the new technology so we would have feedback and be able to adjust instruction to meet the learners where they are and provide additional resources as needed.
In the second unit goal, utilizing skype, podcasts and blogs the evaluation plan would include use of formative assessments and knowledge checks. Students will be working independently when they are creating their skype, podcasts and blog accounts and links and the activity of sharing and linking their accounts to others and their instructor. These activities and use of the technology will provide the ability to complete a formative assessment and confirm that students have set up and successfully used the technologies. If a student doesn’t post their link to their skype, blog or podcast then support would be given.
Many teachers are not of a “growth mindset” and nervous about using new technology. (Dweck, 2007) The instructional modules need to be supportive and the evaluation plan would include “emotional” status checks when a new technology is introduced and again when students go to apply it and prior to students sharing their work with peers. The evaluation plan would include the instructor to ask each student how they are doing during the activities and check emotional status and support accordingly.
The last unit goal of implementation and using new resources to increase student engagement will be evaluated through a summative assessment in the form of student reflection paper and class presentation on at least two ways they plan to incorporate this new technology to increase student engagement. This will synthesize the application of the new technologies and enable students to collaborate, share ideas and create best practices.
Summary of Assessment Components for Evaluation Plan:
Unit Goals
Assessment Component
Describe what is skype, podcasts and blogs and when to use them
Learner Activity
-Pretest to assess technology knowledge to guide instruction
-Exit ticket after each module that requires student free response and quickwrite
Effectively use skype, podcasts and blogs
Learner Activity
- Each student will create a skype, blog and podcast account, make posts and share links to their work with classmates and instructors
-Instructor will monitor emotional status of students when they go to apply the new concept by informal questioning
Increase student engagement through use of skype, podcasts and blogs and how you will implement in your classroom
Learner activity
-Student reflection paper, summative assessment
-Student presentation to peers on 2 ways they will incorporate new technologies
-Class discussion and collaboration capturing best practices shared into a best practices reference sheet
Resources:
Dweck, C (2007). Mindset the new psychology of success, Random House Publishing Group
.
Morrison, G. R., Ross, S. M., Kalman, H. K., & Kemp, J. E. (2011). Designing effective instruction (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alignment of Unit Goals to the evaluation process
Tech Savvy Academy had three unit goals for our instructional modules:
1) Describe the difference between Skype, Podcasts and Blogs,
2) Use Skype, Podcasts and Blogs in your lesson plans
3) Increase student engagement through the use of these resources
It is critical to use evaluation to determine if the course is teaching what it is suppose to. (Morrison, 2011) To begin our instructional modules we would provide an overview and clear idea of what we want our students to learn. As part of this first introduction and part of our evaluation plan we would pre-test students to gauge knowledge and familiarity with the new technology so we would have feedback and be able to adjust instruction to meet the learners where they are and provide additional resources as needed.
In the second unit goal, utilizing skype, podcasts and blogs the evaluation plan would include use of formative assessments and knowledge checks. Students will be working independently when they are creating their skype, podcasts and blog accounts and links and the activity of sharing and linking their accounts to others and their instructor. These activities and use of the technology will provide the ability to complete a formative assessment and confirm that students have set up and successfully used the technologies. If a student doesn’t post their link to their skype, blog or podcast then support would be given.
Many teachers are not of a “growth mindset” and nervous about using new technology. (Dweck, 2007) The instructional modules need to be supportive and the evaluation plan would include “emotional” status checks when a new technology is introduced and again when students go to apply it and prior to students sharing their work with peers. The evaluation plan would include the instructor to ask each student how they are doing during the activities and check emotional status and support accordingly.
The last unit goal of implementation and using new resources to increase student engagement will be evaluated through a summative assessment in the form of student reflection paper and class presentation on at least two ways they plan to incorporate this new technology to increase student engagement. This will synthesize the application of the new technologies and enable students to collaborate, share ideas and create best practices.
Summary of Assessment Components for Evaluation Plan:
-Pretest to assess technology knowledge to guide instruction
-Exit ticket after each module that requires student free response and quickwrite
- Each student will create a skype, blog and podcast account, make posts and share links to their work with classmates and instructors
-Instructor will monitor emotional status of students when they go to apply the new concept by informal questioning
how you will implement in your classroom
-Student reflection paper, summative assessment
-Student presentation to peers on 2 ways they will incorporate new technologies
-Class discussion and collaboration capturing best practices shared into a best practices reference sheet
Dweck, C (2007). Mindset the new psychology of success, Random House Publishing Group
.
Morrison, G. R., Ross, S. M., Kalman, H. K., & Kemp, J. E. (2011). Designing effective instruction (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.