The document summarizes notes from a General Education department meeting covering the following topics in 3 sentences or less:
End of course surveys, at risk student lists, contracts, rubrics on the general education wiki, classroom expectations including substantive feedback and grade inflation, an upcoming ACICS visit, faculty development plans, and responses that may be given if auditors ask questions during the visit.
It also briefly outlines instructional evaluations, the online library, and recommendations faculty could provide if asked about best/worst features and improvements during the ACICS visit.
Tips for Assessing Student Learning Using BlackboardJason Rhode
The online assessment tools of Blackboard can be utilized to facilitate meaningful and memorable learning activities for students. These online assessment tools include: surveys, test, quizzes, and electronic submission of assignments. What are the most efficient and effective uses of the Blackboard assessment tools? What recommendations exist for reinforcing academic integrity and providing meaningful feedback? This online discussion to shared tips and best practices for assessing student learning using Blackboard.
Tips for Assessing Student Learning Using BlackboardJason Rhode
The online assessment tools of Blackboard can be utilized to facilitate meaningful and memorable learning activities for students. These online assessment tools include: surveys, test, quizzes, and electronic submission of assignments. What are the most efficient and effective uses of the Blackboard assessment tools? What recommendations exist for reinforcing academic integrity and providing meaningful feedback? This online discussion to shared tips and best practices for assessing student learning using Blackboard.
'The VLE Usage Survey Five Years in: overview of findings & future directions'. Robert Cosgrave, Angelica Risquez, Damien Raftery, Eamon Costello, Theresa Logan-Phelan, Nuala Harding, Marion Palmer, Claire McAvinia, Tom Farrelly
Feedback to students on their work and attainment is at the centre of successful learning in higher education. However many top rated universities find it hard to match high levels of student satisfaction with teaching and learning in general with levels of satisfaction in assessment and feedback. There are many factors which impact the quality of the feedback, and at UEA we are keen that the opportunities to enrich through digitisation are not constrained to the replication of previously paper based practices. For this reason we have initiated a project to harness all of Blackboardäó»s interactive tools to raise the quality of feedback. The overall aim of the project is to embed assessment and feedback in teaching and learning, so that feedback becomes a dialogic process and not a product in itself. This presentation is a report on our progress so far and looks at a range of interventions and their results, as we scale up to campus wide integration of Blackboard assessment and feedback tools. The evidence of impact comes from the academic community and students. We welcome interaction from fellow delegates during the presentation, as we discuss how Blackboard supports us to move forward with feedback.
NIU Blackboard Portfolio Pilot InformationJason Rhode
slides from initial informational meeting held 5/14/2010 introducing the features of the Blackboard Portfolio tool to be piloted during summer and fall 2010 at Northern Illinois University
AP Language & Composition College Board Parent's Night Presentation for general information about AP courses and their expectations for student success in the class and course. Breakdown of course objectives and important information.
'The VLE Usage Survey Five Years in: overview of findings & future directions'. Robert Cosgrave, Angelica Risquez, Damien Raftery, Eamon Costello, Theresa Logan-Phelan, Nuala Harding, Marion Palmer, Claire McAvinia, Tom Farrelly
Feedback to students on their work and attainment is at the centre of successful learning in higher education. However many top rated universities find it hard to match high levels of student satisfaction with teaching and learning in general with levels of satisfaction in assessment and feedback. There are many factors which impact the quality of the feedback, and at UEA we are keen that the opportunities to enrich through digitisation are not constrained to the replication of previously paper based practices. For this reason we have initiated a project to harness all of Blackboardäó»s interactive tools to raise the quality of feedback. The overall aim of the project is to embed assessment and feedback in teaching and learning, so that feedback becomes a dialogic process and not a product in itself. This presentation is a report on our progress so far and looks at a range of interventions and their results, as we scale up to campus wide integration of Blackboard assessment and feedback tools. The evidence of impact comes from the academic community and students. We welcome interaction from fellow delegates during the presentation, as we discuss how Blackboard supports us to move forward with feedback.
NIU Blackboard Portfolio Pilot InformationJason Rhode
slides from initial informational meeting held 5/14/2010 introducing the features of the Blackboard Portfolio tool to be piloted during summer and fall 2010 at Northern Illinois University
AP Language & Composition College Board Parent's Night Presentation for general information about AP courses and their expectations for student success in the class and course. Breakdown of course objectives and important information.
An evidence-based model to enhance programme-wide assessment using technology: TESTA to FASTECH . Presented by Tansy Jessop and Yaz El-Hakim (University of Winchester) and Paul Hyland (Bath Spa University). Facilitated by Mark Russell (University of Hertfordshire).
Jisc conference 2011
3. Department Notes End of Course Surveys Return to Amy: aarmstrong@online.academy.edu FAX: 813.357.2564 At Risk lists Spreadsheet template Due Thursday of Week 3 Online students only Send Amy email if no online students
4. Contracts now sent after courses assigned in VC Please return all 3 pages Rubrics Required in all classrooms Must have points breakdown
5. Gen Ed Wiki http://iadtogened.pbworks.com/ Invitations coming next week Commonly used documents Change of grade, incomplete, etc. Review meeting notes and PowerPoints Links to CEC and other sites, including CEE courses and other Professional Development In Progress If there is something you’d like to see, let me know!
6. Looking Forward ACICS visit September 29-October 1 Week 2 of 1004B will be interrupted by Thanksgiving More to come
7. Classroom Expectations Substantive Feedback No cookie cutter comments unless You are uploading graded documents into student folders Quizzes Comments must be personalized and refer to specifics in the assignment (more than just the rubric) Use spell check The number of errors I find in grade books is embarrassing! All areas of grade book need to have comments Including quizzes Review grade book each week for late submissions
8. More Classroom Expectations Please post grades on time Wednesday at midnight Review your classrooms every pre-session Do not rely on someone else to take care of it for you! Mistakes in the classroom are a reflection on you in the eyes of your students Remember, if I don’t know it’s broken, I can’t get it fixed!
11. What Is Grade Inflation Traditionally: “…grade patterns change so that the overwhelming majority of students in a class, college, or university receive higher grades for the same quantity and quality of work done by students in the past.” (Schiming) On the IADT Online VC Students are receiving full or nearly full points on assignments Discussion Boards affected more than Individual Projects
12. The Implications of Grade Inflation Cheapened value of education and academic honors Lack of consistent, accurate information for potential employers about the skills of graduates Lack of honest responses to students regarding their strengths and weaknesses Value of a letter grade—or college degree—diminished
13. A Excellent work that goes far above and beyond what has been asked and is expected No or little room for improvement B Work goes above and beyond what is expected, but there is room for improvement C Work meets expectations for the assignment All parts of the assignment may or may not have been answered. Room for improvement D Work is below expectations for the assignment All parts of the assignment may not have been answered. F Work is substandard. All or most parts of the assignment have not been answered.
14. Solutions Rubrics. Do not reward students just because they submitted an assignment that meets minimum expectations Students should get some credit for work they’ve submitted, unless it’s plagiarized. However, be mindful that very few of your students will turn in a perfect assignment. Rubrics. Review your grade spread for assignments If an assignment is worth 225 points, 203 points and above is still an A! Reconsider how many points you’re taking off for errors Rubrics.
15. Please consider the following If your students are meeting the minimal expectations on an assignment, does that constitute excellent work (an A)? If you believe your assignments are too easy or difficult, please speak up. Remember, Andrea has an open door policy!
17. Auditors may enter your classrooms May attend a Live Chat May wish to speak to your students Conduct your class normally: you have nothing to hide!
18. Question You May Be Asked Your educational background You are all qualified to teach what you do. If your highest degree earned doesn’t make your qualifications apparent, be sure to mention the degree that does!
19. Faculty Development Plan How is it developed You make the decisions on what you would like to do, I approve and make suggestions depending on what I think you need How is it implemented Faculty are required to complete two development per year, once first half, once second half. Faculty are en How is it documented Appropriate documentation includes certificates of completion or other proof of attendance, write-ups, transcripts, etc. Documentation is sent to Andrea When is it reviewed Biannually Midyear FDP reviews are sent to all faculty
21. Faculty Meetings How often Quarterly Topics General department notes Discussions of pertinent topics for effective education Rubrics grade inflation plagiarism
22. In-Service Training How often Quarterly Participation in a minimum of two required per year Each half of the year Topics Subjects that pertain to educational pedagogy Information Literacy Academic Integrity
23. Teaching Load Number of clock hours per week in class Average student-teacher ratio 25-28 in Gen Ed Number and identification of subject preparations
24. Student Attendance Number of clock hours per week in class To whom are attendance forms given Administrative policy of excessive absenteeism
25. Availability for additional academic assistance Office hours 2 hours per week Tutoring/Labs COLL101, HUMN101, ENGL101, ENGL102, MATH130 and The Writing Lab
26. Preparation, utilization, and evaluation of course syllabi—are they given to students All syllabi are available on the VC in your classrooms
27. Selection of textbooks and supplementary materials Textbooks are the same for all IADT campuses A general education committee consisting of all chairs and other administrators reviews textbooks Faculty are encouraged to share views on current texts (good and bad) with me For courses where texts are identified as eligible for a new book (not a new edition), exam copies are sent to faculty for review and input
28. Use of community resources Guest lecturers You have the ability to bring in a guest lecturer in your Live Chats Field trips You have the ability to take students on virtual field trips during live chats Externships/internships As we are Gen Ed, you aren’t expected to be aware of these
29. Instructional Evaluation Who does them (e.g. director, director of education, students?) How is the evaluation performed? Who discusses the results?
30. Use of resource center/library The online library is available to students 24/7 via a link on the VC We recently did a survey of faculty regarding library use, etc. This included your suggestions for additional materials Thanks to everyone who completed the survey!
31. Describe best and worst features or working conditions This is not the place to air your grievances! Try to put a positive spin on anything negative Remember: all schools have issues