Greetings, Faculty!

There is a difference between evaluation and assessment. 

An evaluation is usually tied to some sort of data or testing.  An assessment, on the other hand, involves an interpretation or analysis of information about student performance. 

Last week's Teach Tips suggested implementing the Weekly Wrap-Up as a classroom assessment technique (CAT), a formative evaluation easily implemented in the classroom to assess student understanding and inform teaching methods (Angelo & Cross, 1993).

As GCU instructors, we challenge each of you to be present with your students and their learning experience.  The weekly wrap-up, if implemented and managed effectively, can be an assessment tool to get closer to student understanding and the learning experience taking place inside your classroom.

When evaluating students' responses to the Weekly Wrap-Up topics and questions, this requires both an evaluation and an assessment of student learning.

When evaluating the student response, an instructor is essentially appraising student efforts (i.e., content knowledge, lessons learned).  Immediately following evaluation is an authentic assessment of the student response. Authentic assessment involves a presence on behalf of the instructor, as well as a commitment to each student's experience.

Step 1: Develop appropriate questions to evaluate student learning each week is the first step. This requires a 30,000 foot view of the week, discussion questions, and respective assignments. 

Step 2: Choose the New Topic feature in the Main Discussion Forum, select the DQ option, write the appropriate title (e.g., Module 3 Wrap-Up), and prompt students with appropriate questions. For the highest response rate, it is encouraged to post the Weekly Wrap-up after the week's end, when the next week begins.

Step 3: Monitor and evaluate student responses.

Step 4: Offer students feedback on responses, making connections to course content, weekly objectives, current and future professional experiences.

Step 5: After the course has ended, go back to review the content and discussion for your Weekly Wrap-Ups.

"If you want to change student learning then (you have to) change the methods of assessment" (Cross, 1998). 

Thanks for reading this week's Teach Tips and thanks for your commitment to your students!

References:

Angelo, T.A. and Cross, K.P. (1993). Classroom Assessment Techniques: A Handbook for College Teachers. Second Edition, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Cross, K.P. (1998). What do we know about students' learning and how do we know it? Paper presented at the American Association for Higher Education National Conference on Higher Education. Atlanta, GA.

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