Assessment Tools for the Online Classroom

Assessment Tools
for the Online
Classroom
EDUC 762 Collaborative
Midterm
Blake Greisinger, Lisa Fitzgerald, and Sheri
Perez

In their book Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace, Rena

Palloff and Keith Pratt discuss one of the most common concerns when
it comes to teaching online: Is online learning . . . as effective as the
facetoface classroom in achieving learning outcomes (18). Far too
often, students equate online classes with correspondence courses in
which they work independently through bundles of work, but online
courses have the unique ability to serve students so that they can
obtain a rich learning experience. Effective online courses strike a
strong balance between content learning and personalized learning,
and the assessments used should also be varied. Certainly,
information is important, but utilizing a variety of tools to present that
material and assess student understanding can be the mechanism that
grabs and maintains students interest. Hence, Course assessment is
important because it has a strong impact on learning and is an
indicator of the quality of learning occurring in a class (Arend 3), and
it is this notion exactly that pushes us as instructors not just to provide
one type of assessment, but to focus on using meaningful tools to
measure students mastery of the learning outcomes. Thus, the
creation of an assessment toolbox becomes invaluable in reaching a
wide variety of students through multiple measures. Here, we examine
three electronic assessment toolsGoogle Apps, Pathbrite, and Twitter
that can help to provide meaningful approaches to engage and
assess students.

Assessment Tools for the Online Classroom

A High Level Overview of Google Apps for Education

by Blake Greisinger
Introduction
Google Apps for Education is a suite of online tools that organizations
(mainly schools) can utilize for the creation, viewing, sharing, and
organization of content.
Uses and Benefits of Google Apps for Education
Google Apps for Education can be used in either a fully online or
blended method of education. With it you can create documents
(Google Docs), Spreadsheets (Google Sheets), and Presentations
(Google Slides) amongst others, and then distribute them online via
the Google Classroom website. The main benefit for Google Apps for
Education is its one stop for everything nature. Once students or
teachers are logged in and use it, everything works and is compatible,
as long as you stay within the Google sandbox. As a teacher, I like it
because I create a document as normal, and then select what classes I
want to assign it to, and each student gets his/her own copy of that
document, just as if I had physically photocopied it. Students can add,
edit, and hand in the document, and I get direct access to it for
evaluation, timeliness, and commenting on their work.
Weaknesses and Challenges of Google Apps for Education
Like many things, Google Apps for Education has two sides to its coin:
on the one hand, everything is in an online contained environment,
which works really well. On the other, everything is in a contained
online environment, in which outside applications and systems dont
work well. Additionally, students (and teachers) must be online to use
it. This constraint presents problems, such as difficulty implementing
3rd party software, which might be industry standard. You can certainly

Assessment Tools for the Online Classroom

upload, and present all kinds of documents (Word, PowerPoint, Excel,

etc.) but much of the benefit of the Google platform is lost, such as the
ability to edit and hand back work through Google Classroom. This
downside can be a big issue if part of your mission is teaching students
how to use industry standard software. The other big issue is that you
must be online at all times to use it, even if you are just editing a
document. This means that you must make sure that you and your
students have reliable internet access all the time, not just when it is
time to interact with the class.
Application of Google Apps for Education in the Blended
Electronics Classroom.
Learning Objective: Students will learn how to implement coding to
fade an LED via input from the potentiometer.
Success Criteria: Students will have a complete, working circuit.
Students will have completed the attached questions. Students will
have handed in their Google Doc.
1) As the teacher I have created a Google Doc, which explains the
circuit that the students will need to build. The document contains an
introduction, a circuit diagram, and some code that students can use
as a basis for their program, and some questions that students will
have to answer. Here is the link for the actual assignment as I present
it to my class:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S2CNzldrOca8w70cNjMTcPNCaN
b3m5qcsjbDqKk69r4/edit?usp=sharing
2) Students will log on to Google Classroom and view the classroom
stream, which looks and acts like the Facebook wall with the most
recent items on top and past assignments and announcements
underneath.
3) Students click on the current assignment, and each student has
his/her own copy of the document that I have created.
4) Students read the document, complete the circuit and get it signed
off by me (on a real world piece of paper). If this were a totally online
course the student could make a short video of the circuit and upload it
to YouTube. Since Google owns YouTube, their videos also play well in
Google Apps for Education.
5) The students complete the questions by typing their responses
directly on to the document. This document allows for unlimited
answer space, the ability to drop in pictures, and allows for
differentiation and accommodation for those students who have

Assessment Tools for the Online Classroom

difficulty writing with traditional pencil and paper.

6) The student clicks the turn in button on the upper left hand of the
screen, and the assignment goes to my inbox in my Google Classroom
screen. At a glance, I can see who has turned it in and weather it is on
time or not. In addition, I can click on the document for evaluation,
commenting, and grading. The results are immediately available to the
student in real time.
The ability to utilize Google Classroom both in my physical classroom
and wherever I happen to have the internet has proved to be really
powerful. Students are enjoying the ability to have access to their work
and feedback right away and always have it organized and searchable.
I have had a lot of positive feedback on its implementation in my
classroom. Google also offers a variety of apps (including Classroom,),
which allows access and full functionality from mobiledevices.

A look at Pathbrite by Lisa Fitzgerald

Introduction
Pathbrite is an electronic portfolio program that allows users to store
and show authentic evidence of the work they have produced.
Anything from schoolwork to resumes and projects can be housed and
presented on Pathbrite. Users even have the ability to add images,
audio, and video to their work, so addressing all types of learning
styles is a great component of Pathbrite.
Uses and Benefits of Pathbrite
Pathbrite is a very friendly site, particularly for use within an
educational context. Instructors can work with Pathbrite similarly to a
learning management system (LMS), where courses can be created,
and instructors can monitor students work/artifacts. Unlimited storage
is available through the site, and helpful portfolio templates are
provided so that students can see examples of completed work.
Likewise, creative students can run wild with the options provided and
are only limited by their imagination. Aside from being able to add
Word, Google Docs and PDF documents to portfolios, users can also
connect viewers to blogs, YouTube videos, resumes, or any other
reference material they would like. Privacy is also well considered, as

Assessment Tools for the Online Classroom

users have the option of making their portfolio available to the public
or maintaining privacy by sharing their url directly with chosen
individuals.
Weaknesses and Challenges of Pathbrite
Although Pathbrite can be used effectively in a classroom situation
without spending any money, there are some fancy bells and whistles
that only come to those who pay. Pathbrite is free for instructors, but
students are charged a $10 yearly fee to access instructor classes;
the $10 fee is applied to all courses the students access. At this level,
instructors can add rubrics to their assessments of students work,
along with their comments. Also, Pathbrite could also be overwhelming
for students who arent familiar with technology. I have found that the
site does not seem to be all that intuitive in that creating the portfolio
can be challenging. For example, trying to add pictures and text on
the same page was a major challenge, one that I am still trying to work
through.
Application of Pathbrite in the Online Composition Classroom
Learning Objective: Students will show the ability to apply the steps of
the writing process to an assignment and evaluate and reflect on their
work through their Pathbrite e-portfolio with at least a proficient score
on the provided rubric.
1) Students will first be introduced to the writing process, and they will
practice the techniques in their e-portfolios.
2) PrewritingThe first step of the writing process (prewriting) will ask
students to use a number of strategies to generate ideas for their
essays. Strategies, such as brainstorming, listing, and clustering will be
offered. Students will be given the opportunity to use mind map
technology to add to their portfolio if they choose, but they will be
encouraged to try out many options to determine the most meaningful
to them.
3) WritingStudents begin to narrow their focus from the prewriting
they have generated and decide upon a focus/tentative thesis. An
outline or other organizational map can be used to move toward the
first draft. Focus on organization, content, and structure is the
emphasis here. Mechanics takes a backseat at this stage of the
process.
4) RevisingIn the revision process, students focus on higher level
writing skills, such as argument, focus, support, and voice. There is an

Assessment Tools for the Online Classroom

emphasis on looking at the essay with a very critical eye and revisioning what can make it stronger.
5) EditingIn the editing process, students focus on spelling, grammar,
punctuation, and word choice. The essay is seen as much more of a
product at this point, and the student is making his/her final touches.
6) PublishingStudents publish their essays to their e-portfolios as the
final product of a meaningful process.
7) ReflectionStudents reflect on what did and did not work for them
in this process and make a plan for how they will approach the next
assignment.
The above example is yet one approach to using Pathbrite in the
classroom. What is even more exciting than the options are the
results: According to Principles and Practices in Electronic Portfolios,
the Conference on College Composition and Communication has found
that e-portfolios can be used to enforce learning outcomes, create
digital identities, provide students with the opportunity to write for
authentic audiences, write across the curriculum, and promote life-long
learning (CCCC). E-portfolios encourage students to engage in the
writing process, something that many of them are unfamiliar with.
They can do so in a safe and nurturing environmentone in which they
can receive feedback and support. The reflection that students engage
in will help them to understand the significance that working through
an assignment can have, and the hope is that they will transfer this
awareness to all parts of their learning. The following link is a sample
portfolio that I created that gives the stages of the writing process.
(The above plan would have students work through each stage in their
portfolios.) https://pathbrite.com/u416381859/NOiZ

A Look at Twitter in the Classroom by Sheri Perez

Introduction
Twitter is a social networking device for the classroom that can be used
to build a learning community around course content. The 140character limit for each message or tweet requires questions and
answers to be short and allows learning to continue outside of a
traditional learning management system.
Uses and Benefits of Twitter

Assessment Tools for the Online Classroom

Ultimately, Twitter is a platform that allows teachers to connect their

learning objectives to the real world, expanding the boundaries of
learning (November). Students that have an account can quickly post
questions or respond to messages from their phones. Those students
that are hesitant about joining Twitter and establishing an account can
still read the messages until they become comfortable with the
platform, an advantage for older students in higher education.
Recently, Twitter introduced a new survey tool that allows for
anonymous voting, adding another option within this platform for
simple assessments. Jeff Dunn provides a wonderful article on the ins
and outs of how to begin using Twitter and then applies it to the role of
an educator. In order to make the most of Twitter in your course, you
should Tweet regularly (one to five times a day), share what you are
reading and watching in your content area, and ask your students
questions. The goal is to create a community in your course and to
encourage students to work together.
Weaknesses and Challenges of Twitter
If Twitter participation is optional, which may be likely in some courses,
participation could be uneven or nonexistent from students. Twitter
reports that over a 1/3 of their registered users dont tweet, which
means some students may follow the class account but may never
want to voluntarily participate. In spite of this drawback, Samantha
Miller provides many ideas for using Twitter that would still be
beneficial to more passive followers, including reminding students
about upcoming due dates, posting changes to the syllabus, and using
Twitter as a forum for students to ask questions during and after
lectures. Simply reading the questions and answers on the Twitter feed
can be a valuable learning experience for students too shy to
participate in social media. The biggest drawback to Twitter is requiring
students to register for an account and then participate in the course
account, especially if some students are resistant to social media, due
to concerns about privacy. In addition, the 140-character limit in each
tweet requires any assessment exercises to remain very simple, so
students can respond in a few words. Complex topics would need to be
avoided and addressed in other assessment vehicles.

Application of Twitter in an Online Economics Class

Learning Objective: Explain the difference between a change in
demand and a change in the quantity demanded.

Assessment Tools for the Online Classroom

Tweet posted by instructor: Diabetes experts tell G20 to tax sugar to

save lives. Is the goal to change the demand or the quantity demanded
for sugar? Explain your reasoning . . . in 140 characters or less.
After covering demand in class through notes, videos, and homework
assignments, students can follow the link to either read an article or
watch a news report on a suggested tax on sugar. Reflecting back to
the content covered in the course, students should be able to identify
this example as a change in the quantity demanded of sugar since the
purpose of the tax is to increase the price of sugar. If students start
responding with the wrong answer, then additional tweets focusing on
the price of sugar by the instructor could prod them towards a better
understanding of this concept.
Conclusion
The key to successful assessment seems to be the use of multiple
methods and effective and timely instructor feedback. The
assessment tools and practices that we have discussed help to assess
students understanding by using formative and summative
approaches. Although there are numerous tools for assessing
students, instructors should also remember the importance of
connecting assignments to the desired learning outcomes. Rather than
treating students as empty receptacles ready to be filled with the
knowledge of their professors, Instructors can instead maximize
student interest and excitement by using a bottom-up approach that
involves assessing students needs, tailoring the course experience,
and using teaching techniques that purposefully heighten students
engagement (Meyers). Creating and using an assessment toolbox will
serve instructors in achieving the learning outcomes desired.
Works Cited
Arend, Bridget D. "Course Assessment Practices and Student Learning
Strategies in
Online Courses. Course Assessment Practices and Student
Learning Strategies
in Online Courses (2006): 3-18. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
CCCC Taskforce on Best Practices in Electronic Portfolios. "Principles
and Practices
in Electronic Portfolios." NCTE Comprehensive News. NCTE, Mar.
2015. Web.
12 Nov. 2015.

Assessment Tools for the Online Classroom

Dunn, Jeff. 100 Ways to Use Twitter in Education, By Degree of

Difficulty.
Edudemic, April 25, 2012. http://www.edudemic.com/100-waysto-usetwitter-in-education-by-degree-of-difficulty/.
Miller, Samantha. 50 Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom.
TeachHub.com.
http://www.teachhub.com/50-ways-use-twitter-classroom.
Meyers, Steven A. "Three Strategies for Creating Meaningful Learning
Experiences."
Faculty Focus. Magna Publications, 24 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 Nov.
2015.
November, Alan and Brian Mull. How Twitter Can Be Used as a
Powerful Educational Tool. October 18, 2012.
http://novemberlearning.com/educational-resources-foreducators/teaching-and-learning-articles/how-twitter-can-beused-as-a-powerful-educational-tool/.
Palloff, Rena M. and Keith Pratt. "Defining and Redefining Community."
Building
Learning Communities in Cyberspace. 21-32. PDF.