Establishing Effective Assessment Practices
Instructors and Instructional Designers intending to implement constructivist learning theory in the classroom, should consider the use of both formative and summative assessments throughout the learning process. Good feedback and collaboration between learners and their peers, as well as the teacher is also important when designing instruction for a constructivist classroom. Analytic rubrics were specifically designed for this, and are a great tool for identifying areas where learners are weaker and stronger in their mastery of skills and knowledge. For group activities, involving each learner in a group in the grading/assessment process is also a great idea as it increases motivation of both individual learners and groups to accomplish assigned tasks. It also gives learners a sense or ownership for their part in the learning process. Assessments for a constructivist class, learning about the constructivist learning theory, could be similar to the following examples:
Formative (Group Activity): Groups members will be given the opportunity to give their peers points based on their participation in the in-class discussions. -Instructor will also award points to students for their posts on the virtual discussion board based on a rubric that will cover clear presentation of ideas, constructive criticism of peers’ posts, staying on topic, and appropriate support of ideas.
Formative (Individual Activity): Students will be evaluated and given feedback by instructor based on the accuracy of their research findings.
Summative Assessments: Students will be required to pass a test based on the leading theorists and concepts/principles of the constructivist theory with a score of at least 80%.
-Students will also be given a final grade for their research paper based on a analytic rubric that covers basic writing and language skills, information accuracy, as well as their ability to apply instructor feedback in their final research paper submission.
-Students also asked to complete survey of overall effectiveness and educational value of lesson.
Formative (Group Activity): Groups members will be given the opportunity to give their peers points based on their participation in the in-class discussions. -Instructor will also award points to students for their posts on the virtual discussion board based on a rubric that will cover clear presentation of ideas, constructive criticism of peers’ posts, staying on topic, and appropriate support of ideas.
Formative (Individual Activity): Students will be evaluated and given feedback by instructor based on the accuracy of their research findings.
Summative Assessments: Students will be required to pass a test based on the leading theorists and concepts/principles of the constructivist theory with a score of at least 80%.
-Students will also be given a final grade for their research paper based on a analytic rubric that covers basic writing and language skills, information accuracy, as well as their ability to apply instructor feedback in their final research paper submission.
-Students also asked to complete survey of overall effectiveness and educational value of lesson.