Online Assessment and Learning Tools
Choosing the technology tools that will be used during an online course is an important process. As Paloff and Pratt state in Lessons from the Virtual Classroom, "The tools used should be chosen to match the outcomes and objectives and serve as a vehicle for reaching them. (Paloff & Pratt, 2013). The use of online tools allows us to better meet the needs of the different learning styles of our students, gives our students more opportunity for peer collaboration, and promotes student-centered, authentic learning. As I look through the list of tools in my personal toolbox, I would like to highlight a few that can be used in an online course. The factors I consider when choosing a tool are:
Below, you will find a description of some of the learning/assessment tools that are available as well as one of the specific tool options that could be used for this type of tool. There are a variety of tool options available for each of the tool types.
- Learning outcomes and goals
- Ease of use and learning curve for student and instructor
- Easily accessible
- How this tool fits on the SAMR Model and Bloom's (Digital) Taxonomy
Below, you will find a description of some of the learning/assessment tools that are available as well as one of the specific tool options that could be used for this type of tool. There are a variety of tool options available for each of the tool types.
SAMR Model
Bloom's Digital Taxonomy
Survey
Tool: Google Forms
Description:
Google Forms is a free and simple survey tool that allows you to create a variety of questions to gather information from a group. Through Google Forms, you can review and organize this feedback in a variety of ways very easily.
Applications:
Examples:
Tool: Google Forms
Description:
Google Forms is a free and simple survey tool that allows you to create a variety of questions to gather information from a group. Through Google Forms, you can review and organize this feedback in a variety of ways very easily.
Applications:
- Create a pre-course survey can be used to collect information from students as they enter the class
- Create a summative and formative assessment with the students throughout the course
- Gather end of the course feedback
- Gather peer feedback on a project or presentation
- Create a quick check for understanding
- Generate an exit ticket around a topic
Examples:
- Pre-course survey - this survey was created to get feedback from teachers as to what type of training we should add to our training program
- Assessment survey - this survey was created to assess students on their understanding of the Responsible Use Policy at our school
- Feedback survey - this survey was created to obtain feedback from our teachers about a training event that took place to use while planning additional training opportunities
Blog
Tool: Weebly
Description:
A blog is an online journal that allows the writers to create posts around a certain topic. The writer can decide how visible they want the posts to be and how and if commenting will occur. The posts are listed on the page, with the newest post on top. A blog can be published instantly and can contain images, links, videos and other types of media. Readers can read, reflect, and respond to a post, allowing for a conversation based around a certain. This versatile tools allows writers to share their thoughts and collect feedback from a global audience. Weebly is a free and simple tool that you can use to create professional looking blogs and web pages.
Applications:
Tool: Weebly
Description:
A blog is an online journal that allows the writers to create posts around a certain topic. The writer can decide how visible they want the posts to be and how and if commenting will occur. The posts are listed on the page, with the newest post on top. A blog can be published instantly and can contain images, links, videos and other types of media. Readers can read, reflect, and respond to a post, allowing for a conversation based around a certain. This versatile tools allows writers to share their thoughts and collect feedback from a global audience. Weebly is a free and simple tool that you can use to create professional looking blogs and web pages.
Applications:
- Write a personal journal
- Reflect on course learning
- Create an e-portfolio
- Share and discuss a variety of topics and articles
Peer to Peer Collaboration Tools
Tools: Google Docs (collaborate document) and Wikispaces (collaborative web site)
Description:
A wiki is a website where multiple users can collaboratively create and edit a website. This tool provides a way for teams of students to create a group of pages that are linked together and can contain a variety of media. This tool is an easy way to create a team web site where all members have editing rights.
Google Docs is a free web-based word processing application in which multiple users can edit the same document at the same time from any location. Google Docs offers a revision history tool so each member's edits can easily be seen. In addition to being able to make revisions, classmates can comment directly on the Google Doc, making it an excellent tool for peer editing and feedback.
Applications:
Tools: Google Docs (collaborate document) and Wikispaces (collaborative web site)
Description:
A wiki is a website where multiple users can collaboratively create and edit a website. This tool provides a way for teams of students to create a group of pages that are linked together and can contain a variety of media. This tool is an easy way to create a team web site where all members have editing rights.
Google Docs is a free web-based word processing application in which multiple users can edit the same document at the same time from any location. Google Docs offers a revision history tool so each member's edits can easily be seen. In addition to being able to make revisions, classmates can comment directly on the Google Doc, making it an excellent tool for peer editing and feedback.
Applications:
- Gather information and resources collaboratively
- Generate, exchange, compare and share ideas
- Create and share course documents, templates and rubrics
- Create group projects around a topic
- Creating and sharing photos and videoclips
- Collect and discuss artifacts
Audio, Video, and Screencasts
Tools: Quicktime and Explain Everything (iPad app)
Description:
Tools that can record audio, video and screen actions are powerful ways for students to make their thinking and learning visible as well as a way to meet a variety of learning styles. Quicktime is a tool that allows users to not only view videos, but also easily create audio recordings, videos and screencasts. Explain Everything is an iPad app that allows users record their voice and actions while using a virtual whiteboard, allowing users an easy way to make their thinking and learning visible.
Applications:
Examples
Tools: Quicktime and Explain Everything (iPad app)
Description:
Tools that can record audio, video and screen actions are powerful ways for students to make their thinking and learning visible as well as a way to meet a variety of learning styles. Quicktime is a tool that allows users to not only view videos, but also easily create audio recordings, videos and screencasts. Explain Everything is an iPad app that allows users record their voice and actions while using a virtual whiteboard, allowing users an easy way to make their thinking and learning visible.
Applications:
- Record voice explaining a topic to convey emotion
- Record musical instrument or sound
- Create video acting out or demonstrating a topic
- Create a screencast showing how to use a tech tool
- Create a screencast looking through a written document or type of artifact providing peer feedback
- Create a screencast explaining a blog post, written document or any artifact that a student created
- Create an Explain Everything video demonstrating learning around a diagram, topic, or problem that was solved
Examples
Parts of an Email
This is a video I created for my third graders as they learn to use email as a tool for communication.
This is a video I created for my third graders as they learn to use email as a tool for communication.