Patrick Pfeifer

This module was ripe with new information.  The value-added assessment was intriguing and I can see how it would be useful to a large variety of students.

I learned a variety of things in this section.  First, objective assesments have a right or wrong answer where subjective assesments are more like essays that answer an open ended question.  It is critical to provide feedback on objective assessments, not just for subjective assessments.  Subjective assesments must have a rubric with it so that the student understands how they will be evaluated. 

Overall, I learned that assessment and evaluation both can be very valuable and, actually, serve different functions.  I also learned about the different styles of assessment.

This unit reinforced the idea that instructors must take several points into consideration before selecting a tool.  Student feedback is important, but so is the usefulness of the tool overall.

It is vital to the success of the rubric to ensure its reliability.

Clarity and fairness are paramount to developing a rubric.

The importance of peer-to-peer assessment cannot be overlooked.  Allowing and fostering this interaction can provide constructive criticism between student, peers and instructors and can help students judge how well they learned the material. 

The use of a rubric allows some great opportunities for students to get more than just a letter grade and this is important in a science class.  On so many assignments, all I can offer them is "correct" or "incorrect", but having a rubric for discussion posts and essay questions allows me to make sure students are understanding the material holistically.