Assessment and Evaluation
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In the context of education, assessment and evaluation are terms which refer (often interchangeably) to the process of gathering evidence to support conclusions about the effectiveness of educational programs and interventions. The term assessment frequently refers to strategies used to measure individual student learning. The term evaluation more commonly describes the systematic process of studying overall impacts of an educational program.
There are a wide range of philosophies and approaches to educational assessment and program evaluation. The tools described in this section support assessment and evaluation efforts across the spectrum of assessing the individual student, assessing teaching, assessing instructional technology use, and evaluating educational programs.
Classroom assessment and polling
Instructors benefit from timely feedback on student progress. Tools to support classroom assessment and polling include iQuiz, or in the context of a large class, the Personal Response System (PRS). These tools not only provide students with more immediate feedback about their learning but also provide the faculty with a valuable tool for assessing the effectiveness of instructional strategies.
Peer and self assessment
Calibrated Peer Review is an online tool that can assist faculty in implementing peer review to enhance student learning and collaboration. StudyMate can allow instructors or students to build a variety of self-assessment applications for study and review for iPod or other applications.
Online testing
Online testing using tools such as the Blackboard Test Manager offer several advantages to instructors including automated grading, question pools, automated item analysis to improve assessment quality, and the ability to provide students with the opportunity for repeat attempts at an assessment.
Web-based surveys
Web-based surveys such as ViewsFlash or the Blackboard Survey Manager can be useful for a variety of purposes:
- Gathering anonymous feedback about instructor performance, course organization, or changes to instructional practice
- Measuring the effects of an instructional activity or innovation
- Gaining insight into student attitudes toward particular assignments or the course as a whole
