Getting Ready for Finals: Online Testing and Alternative Assessments - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRANSITIONING TO FULLY ONLINE INSTRUCTION SERIES

Getting Ready for Finals: Online Testing and Alternative Assessments

Joe Scrima Testing Center Manager Melissa Baysingar Instructional Design Specialist Karen Herold Learning Management System Administrator Mike Bates Dean, Teaching, Learning & Distance Education Stephanie Whalen Chair, Academy for Teaching Excellence

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY Earn CEUs for Attending this Webinar or Watching the Recording

• Complete and submit the Personal Action Plan form on the Academy's

Getting Ready for Finals Webinar page

AGENDA

• Considerations for Final Assessments
• Alternative Assessments
• Using Blackboard Tools for Alternative Assessments
• Using Blackboard Features for Traditional Exams
• Benefits of Exam Security to Ensure Academic Integrity
• Q&A

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TRADITIONAL EXAM ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT

CONSIDERATIONS FOR FINAL ASSESSMENTS

• Limited bandwidth and student constraints
• Asynchronous options
• No-harm grading policy for Spring
• Responding to questions during synchronous exams/assessments
• Academic Integrity

BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS

• Demonstrate higher levels of learning
• Authentic application to the real

world and future learning

• Increased student motivation

and perceived value

• Provide options for students to

demonstrate learning

Photo by Andrea Hernandez is licensed under CC by-sa 2.0

WHY ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS DURING COVID-19?

• Shifted work schedules, family

responsibilities

• Mental health and new stressors
• Technology barriers
• Disabilities and hidden disabilities
• English Language Learners
• Multiple interpretations of exam

questions

• Academic integrity

Remote Learning Resources for Students Community Resources for Students Summer 2020 Syllabus Update – Student Support Resources

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Challenges with Alternative Assessments

• Pivoting at the end of the semester
• Grade weights
• Communications with students
• Time
• Grading criteria
• More subjective vs. objective
• Rubrics
• Difficult to assess lower-level outcomes (e.g. remembering)
• Mandates for accreditation and transfer
• Student acclimation to passive learning

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS TO APPLY LEARNING

• Multi-genre student presentations/simulations

(scripted and recorded or performed live)

• Career applications
• Board Report or Professional Presentation
• Letter of Protest or Mock Dialogue/Debate
• Advertising Materials or Pamphlets
• Review of Article or Other Text
• Integrate course materials and other sources

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS FOR REFLECTIVE LEARNING

• Reflective questions/metacognitive journals
• Test items or stand-alone
• Written or Audio/Video Recorded
• analysis of a major event, decision, discovery
• explanation of a data set, graph, diagram, map
• review of an article or other text
• Reflections on learning process
• Strengthen engagement in the discipline

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS TO DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING

• Narrated/annotated problem solving
• Explain steps in the process
• Show and explain work for problems
• Equations, conversions, squares
• Editing, re-ordering, selecting all that apply
• Video record narration or demonstrate live
• Each student may get different problems
• Allow choice among assigned set (ie. 2 of 3)

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS TO ADVANCE LEARNING

• Exams designed for learning
• Synthesis from open book/materials and notes
• Apply course concepts and materials
• Utilize case studies/problems
• Can assign various problems
• Learning by doing
• Supports resourcefulness

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS TO SHOWCASE LEARNING

• Capstone Projects or Portfolios
• applications of key concepts to demonstrate learning
• visual demonstrations with explanations
• Improvement
• Best work
• Achievement
• Employable Skills
• Reflection
• Next Steps/Goals

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS TO PROVIDE CHOICE

• Consider providing choice among assessments
• Play to students’ strengths
• Increase certainty/comfort
• Reduce stress/anxiety
• May even provide traditional and alternative options
• Some may prefer to work on project
• Others may prefer to take an exam
• Choices of type of exam
• Choosing questions within exam

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.

Student Demonstration – Veronica Mormino, Geography

Virtual Presentation: You will create a virtual presentation on a topic of your choice related to Cuban culture, music, food, history, etc. For this presentation, you can choose any type of presentation to record. For example, you can record a power point presentation, a Prezi presentation, a poster, a poem, a cooking Cuban food class, a Cuban dance, music or

• song. The presentation must have an introduction and a conclusion. In the

introduction, you will start by introducing yourself to the class and include the title of the presentation. Also, explain why you chose the topic. The duration of the presentation should be 10 minutes, maximum. Your presentation will be graded in creativity, time, tone of voice (loud and clear), relevance to the class and time limit (no more than 10 minutes). Please make sure to be prepared, synchronized and simple.

Sample Student Demonstration – Veronica Mormino, Geography

Meet Kisa Jafri, a student in Veronica Mormino’s Spring 2020 Honors HUM115: Afro/Cuban Geography, History & Culture Link to Full Video

Sample Student Instructions – Veronica Mormino, Geography

Please make sure to be prepared, synchronized and simple. If you choose to do a power point presentation, please make sure that the presentation does not contain full paragraphs of text.

• Use a bulleted list or outline format and elaborate on the points in your talk.
• Create a logical flow for your presentation.
• Use large fonts (Times and Arial are preferable).
• Use contrasting colors either a dark background with light text or a light background with dark

text.

• Avoid all CAPITAL LETTERS in your text.
• Include a good combination of words, pictures, and graphics. Variety keeps the presentation

interesting.

• Be creative!

When you are done recording your presentation, you will post your presentation in either YouTube (unlisted) or Google Drive, or you can email me the link to the video so I can share it with the rest of the class. Please remember that your final product is the link of your presentation posted in this discussion board. Please e-mail me if you have any questions.

"Solve for Everything" Final Project – Raeghan Graessle, Physics

Slide provided by Raeghan Graessle

"Solve for Everything" Scorecard (1)

Slide provided by Raeghan Graessle

Solve for Everything Scorecard (2)

Slide provided by Raeghan Graessle

"Solve for Everything" Scorecard (3)

Slide provided by Raeghan Graessle

TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Purpose-Explanation of the assessment you have planned for them and why you have designed it that way Task-Explicit instructions on what they are supposed to do and how (small steps with resources for students who may need additional support getting started) Criteria-Models/exemplars or test item types and clear explanations of how their work will be assessed

USING BLACKBOARD TOOLS FOR ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS

• Presentation & recording options in Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
• Assignment submission options
• Discussion boards for student sharing

LIVE PRESENTATIONS IN BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE ULTRA

• Present to the whole class, small

group, or just you

• Use attendee permissions to allow

students to present

• You can record live sessions with

students for later viewing/grading

LIVE PRESENTATIONS IN BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE ULTRA

• Consider individual presentations or presentations by one or two groups at

a time

• Use the Create Session option if desired to create separate sessions

USING BLACKBOARD FEATURES FOR TRADITIONAL EXAMS

• Test Availability
• Single vs. Multiple Attempts
• Force Completion with Timer vs. No Force Completion with Timer
• Display Dates and/or due dates
• Test Availability Exceptions
• Students who need extended time/dates
• Showing Results and Feedback to Students
• Combinations of how and when to give students feedback
• Test Presentation
• Randomizing Delivery
• Prohibit Backtracking

THE PURSUIT OF SECURE ONLINE TESTING Testing at home can be secure

• Making an attempt sets a tone/expectation
• Even though things have changed, we still need to honestly assess the learning
• Adds accountability

Testing at home cannot be 100% secure

• As this online learning becomes the new normal, new work-arounds are created
• Where there's a will, there's a way

OPTIONS FOR SECURE TESTING - RESPONDUS

How Does it Work?

• Student downloads Respondus

software

• Student is recorded with Respondus

Monitor

• Respondus

software "locks down" the student's internet access

• Upon completion, you can

review footage for potential anomalies What's Needed?

• A webcam
• A laptop or desktop computer
• Stable internet connection
• The Respondus software download

OPTIONS FOR SECURE TESTING - RESPONDUS

Drawbacks

• Will not work with Chromebooks
• Student's identity is not confirmed at

the start of the exam

• Room is not secured

Benefits

• It's built into Blackboard
• Eliminates access to other resources
• n student's computer
• It's recorded and you're

the one watching!

• Student can test whenever they'd

like (if you allow it)

• It's stable

OPTIONS FOR SECURE TESTING - PROCTORU

How Does it Work?

• Student is monitored by a live

proctor at ProctorU

• Student is also recorded during the

test

• Testing appointment

made 72+ hours in advance What's Needed?

• A webcam
• A laptop or desktop computer
• Stable internet connection
• A ProctorU account
• For faculty, a Test Request form

OPTIONS FOR SECURE TESTING - PROCTORU

Drawbacks

• Will not work with Chromebooks
• ProctorU is overwhelmed
• Limited appointment times
• Help desk is not quick to respond
• Requires separate account outside
• f Portal and Blackboard

Benefits

• Identity is confirmed

with picture ID at beginning of exam

• Room is secured at beginning of

exam

• ProctorU identifies questionable

behavior

• Student can test 24/7 (if you allow it)

NEAR-TERM CONSIDERATIONS Student access to technology

• Chromebooks won't work
• Neither will tablets or phones

Timing

• With ProctorU, exam requests need to be in now

Student Schedules

• Can students make time during "traditional hours" to test?

LONGER-TERM CONSIDERATIONS (AKA SUMMER & BEYOND) Technology Remains #1

• (Valid) Assumptions about online learning

ProctorU Expands their Services

• Already happening

Potentially more proctoring options

• Webex or Zoom proctoring in the works
• Honorlock - "Respondus, Without the Chromebook Issue"

THE TESTING CENTER'S ROLE IN ONLINE LEARNING With time, the Testing Center can help with...

• Selecting best modality based on needs
• Clarifying specific security concerns
• Addressing one-off testing needs

Planning ahead is critical

• Much of the Testing Center's flexibility is lost in this environment
• It may be gone forever...

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY Earn CEUs for Attending this Webinar or Watching the Recording

• Complete and submit the Personal Action Plan form on the Academy's

Getting Ready for Finals Webinar page

ONLINE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FORM

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT RESOURCES

OTHER RESOURCES

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Q & A

• Type your questions in the chat area
• Recording of this webinar will be

available shortly on our Academy for Teaching Excellence Transitioning to Online Instruction Webinar Series page