Incorporating the Latest Assessment Trends for E-Learning

This post is provided by guest blogger, Debra Eungard, a graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.

eLearning Assessment Trends and Strategies by Sumit Satardekar (2021) is a thought-provoking read. Satadekar (2021) begins the article by explaining eLearning trends and strategies. He moves on to define qualitative testing to his audience. In his discussion, he brings up some pros and cons of implementation for assessment purposes.  From there he moves on to explain 3 major strategies for implementation:   continuous assessment, decision-making scenarios, and open-ended questions. In each section, the author gives tips on making implementation meaningful. He wraps the article up by offering some final thoughts on this topic such as why it is important to make the switch to these latest trends for assessment for the evolving eLearning community.

The article is beneficial for both the facilitator and the learner in that it gives some valuable tips in the area of assessment. Gaining information in regards to understanding the latest trends and sharing a couple of those trends, the reader is handed tools to implement. From the facilitator’s perspective, these trends can be useful when implementing engaging assessments into the online curriculum. By engaging the learner, the facilitator is creating a valid tool for assessment. As a learner, you can gain insight into assessments and see their value for online learning.

Reference

Satardekar, S. (2021, December 22). Elearning Assessment Trends and Strategies. eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/elearning-assessment-trends-and-strategies

One, Two, Three, Where’s the Four?

This post is brought to you by your padawan blogger, Daniel Liestman, a graduate student in the University of St. Francis’ (Joliet, IL) MS in Training and Development program.

Assessing the training of health care professionals to become proficient with TEDEI (Training in Early Detection for Early Intervention), a screening instrument for cerebral palsy in infants, involved the first three Kirkpatrick levels. Participants in the video-based e-learning course reacted to a 6 question Likert scale and free text responses. Most responses were at the highest level of satisfaction. However, questions about improved personal knowledge and anticipated improved clinical practice only scored at the second highest level of satisfaction. A pre- and post-test of learning showed an improvement of 23.1%. Twenty-three interviewees reported improvement in their behavior in working with parents, improvement in confidence, and success with other telehealth assessments. 

Understandably, Officer, et. al.  (2023) did not attempt a Level 4 assessment.  Kirkpatrick’s model comes from an era of internal in-house training where organizational impact was considered the capstone to a logical progression. In an era of distributed, asynchronous training where not all members of an organization participate assessing Level 4 is challenging. This then begs the question why would an organization support one person taking an online course? The assumption is that the learner will pass the information along to colleagues.  The idea that if you want to master a topic; teach it applies. If the online learners passed along their newfound knowledge, the measures of the 3 Levels could become their Level 4 assessment.

Officer, Johnson, M., Blickwedel, J., Reynolds, A., Pearse, R., Pearse, J., & Basu, A. P. (2023). Evaluation of the Training in Early Detection for Early Intervention (TEDEI) e-learning course using Kirkpatrick’s method. BMC Medical Education23(1), 129–129. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04113-7

Wholistic e-Learning Through e-Portfolios

This post is provided by guest blogger, Sejdije Fejza, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.

Researcher Patience Kelebogile Mudau identifies perceptions of e-portfolios as a form of assessment. E-portfolios are digital spaces for a user to compile projects that highlight qualities about themselves. This assessment enables users to be actively involved in their learning. Students can also engage in the process of reflecting on feedback before they submit activities to their e-portfolio. Despite the possible need for technical training, Professors at University of South Africa agree that e-portfolios are effective in promoting student-centered learning and growth in digital literacy. 

This article’s data were gathered qualitatively through interviewing lecturers that have participated in administering e-portfolios as a requirement for their online students. This firsthand account of information will assist other instructors who are weighing the benefits and limitations of digital student-centered assessments. This entry also serves as an asset because it is published in the International Journal of Educational Methodology which provides readers with pedagogical techniques that succeed around the world. In a world where digital workplaces are on a rapid rise, it is beneficial to consider different techniques, needs, and outlooks in our ever-growing communities. 

Reference: 

Mudau, P. K. (2021). Lecturers’ Views on the Functionality of e-Portfolio as Alternative Assessment in an Open Distance e-Learning. International Journal of Educational Methodology, 8(1), 81–90. https://doi.org/10.12973/ijem.8.1.81

Creating Design Strategies through Mind Mapping

This post is provided by guest blogger, Kelly Andrzejczak, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.

Take advantage of the brains ability to make connections through mind mapping. This technique allows learners to brain dump all of their related thoughts, ideas, and concepts into a visual process that can be constantly edited. Once you feel you’ve captured every idea into the map, you can begin to make sense of what you’re trying to accomplish with the information or end result. In the instructional design process, mind mapping addresses the needs assessment by providing space to answer the who, what, where, when, why, and how. Then use this information to build out your goals, objectives, and proposed outcome.

This process is helpful for instructional designers who are looking for ways to capture all of their thoughts and ideas in one place. It can be hard to know where to start in instructional design and this technique breaks down the process in a way that lets you free your brain of all of your ideas to explore which will be most effective. This resource was found through ATD, the world’s largest association for talent development, so it comes with a great reputation. The article is equipped with five steps to get started making this an easy resource to use.

Marrapodi, J. (2019, May 1). Mind mapping for better instructional design | ATDhttps://www.td.org/magazines/td-magazine/mind-mapping-for-better-instructional-design

Grading E-learning Outcomes, Pun Intended

This post is provided by guest blogger, E Ivy, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.

The writer of the Brown Center Chalkboard blog suggests there could be cause for concern for the online learning levels of higher education students. While much of the post-pandemic attention surrounding e-learning loss has been given to K-12 learners, data reveals college students performed worse in e-learning courses than in face-to-face classes. For learners who are male and less academically prepared, the negative implications of online learning are greater.  However, differences in characteristics of students who choose in-person versus online options may impact some outcomes. At least one finding indicates hybrid courses experience similar results to in-person learning.

This blog site with writings by scholars and fellows in association with the research and public policy-based Brookings Institution is a credible source. I recommend higher education faculty and administrators review the article, as they may be interested in its assessment. The information, with research links included, is helpful in that it discusses and suggests we give attention to postsecondary online learning (in addition to K-12 education). As e-learning continues to expand and evolve, educators may be able to glean from this information and adjust where needed, to help ensure virtual learners are learning as effectively as their in-person counterparts.

Cellini, S. R. (2021, August 13). How does virtual learning impact students in higher education?. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2021/08/13/how-does-virtual-learning-impact-students-in-higher-education/

EEAM: A New Tool for Assessing E-learning

This post is provided by guest blogger, Michele Cote, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.

Researchers from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and University of Tehran conducted a study of e-learning programs. The goal of the study was to develop an assessment that would gauge students’ perceptions of the e-learning environment. Both Continue reading

Assessment for Online Learning

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This post is provided by guest blogger, Tricia DeFay, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MBA in Health Administration program.

Summary

Papadopoulou (2019) discusses how assessments in online learning should be designed. The author asserts that assessment activities are a “powerful way to achieve learning outcomes” (para. 1). According to the author, there are two types of assessments: Continue reading

When Assessing Outcomes, Assess the Environment

Provided by guest blogger, Angelica Brodeur, graduate student University of St. Francis, MS Training and Development program

All too often, universities assess their learning environments to then improve the learning outcomes of their students. If this is the case, different learning environments need different assessments. Assessing a classroom environment will be different then Continue reading

Cheating the System or Yourself?

This post is provided by guest blogger, Callie Surber, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.

The fourteen strategies Stephanie Budhai (2020) lists to reduce cheating in online exams are full of consistent examples of how to proceed with integrity in the examination environment. Her examples range from technological prevention within platforms to Continue reading

How Do I Assess Thee? Let Me Count the Ways…

This post is provided by guest blogger, Sue Dumford, graduate student at the University of St Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.

“O this learning, what a thing it is!William Shakespeare

Many students may not always show the same enthusiasm when it comes to learning, especially when it comes to daunting comprehensive examinations. In her article, Learner Assessment in Online Courses: Best Practices & More, Anthea Papadopoulou (2019) Continue reading