RWS 200 Assessment James Towner Katie Hughes Liane Bryson January 10, 2006 pICT Innovations

Innovations Students created PowerPoint presentations addressing central course concept Students researched and used blogs as evidence of contemporary discussion of paper topic Students imported a photographic image into their essays Students constructed visual arguments with PowerPoint using internet sources, including

Students created PowerPoint presentations addressing central course concept

Students researched and used blogs as evidence of contemporary discussion of paper topic

Students imported a photographic image into their essays

Students constructed visual arguments with PowerPoint using internet sources, including

Assessment approaches Blackboard surveys Criterion-based assessment allowing for comparison of student proficiency before and after innovation

Blackboard surveys

Criterion-based assessment allowing for comparison of student proficiency before and after innovation

Factors contributing to use of this assessment approach Easy access to Blackboard Survey Analysis of results available through Blackboard

Easy access to Blackboard Survey

Analysis of results available through Blackboard

Conclusions based on assessment : Criterion-based assessment showed marked improvement in student work Higher grades in projects one and four

Criterion-based assessment showed marked improvement in student work

Higher grades in projects one and four

Student Surveys Show Intervention Success Written Comments Project 3: I realize using visuals is effective in supporting arguments and claims. Project 4: I think that the use of technology is very helpful for [making] an argument, and the visual presentation is a great way to expand the understanding of the argument. I learned that there are many ways to make an argument by using technology, speech, or writing .

Written Comments

Project 3:

I realize using visuals is effective in supporting arguments and claims.

Project 4:

I think that the use of technology is very helpful for [making] an argument, and the visual presentation is a great way to expand the understanding of the argument.

I learned that there are many ways to make an argument by using technology, speech, or writing .

Using PowerPoint to teach Central Course Concepts: “ To what extent did using technology help in understanding the basic course concepts and being able to demonstrate that understanding?”

“ To what extent did using technology help in understanding the basic course concepts and being able to demonstrate that understanding?”

Using a Visual Image in Project Three Essay: “Using a visual image in my paper helped me understand how images can be seen in different contexts and how different viewers might interpret the image differently.”

“Using a visual image in my paper helped me understand how images can be seen in different contexts and how different viewers might interpret the image differently.”

Constructing a Visual Argument with PowerPoint: “Creating a visual argument to complement a written argument enhanced my understanding of visual rhetoric.”

“Creating a visual argument to complement a written argument enhanced my understanding of visual rhetoric.”

Feedback from Assessments Feedback from Criterion-based assessments and Blackboard surveys Confirmed our expectations and observations.

Feedback from

Criterion-based assessments and

Blackboard surveys

Confirmed our expectations and observations.

Problems we encountered: Using blogs problematic in academic writing Smart classrooms are scarce Difficult to setup in standard classrooms

Using blogs problematic in academic writing

Smart classrooms are scarce

Difficult to setup in standard classrooms

Changes or Improvements Based on Assessments No major changes We will continue with our course pICT innovations

No major changes

We will continue with our course pICT innovations