Marcela Sandino

This was a very enjoyable course and one that can easily be put to practice. I do agree that allow students to demonstrate the knowledge gained in the form of portfolios and not just exams is a great way to evaluate them. 

Considering that customization is the best way to reach all types of learners it is important to understand the need to offer information and accept input in various ways. Allowing student input to be diverse can result in better outcomes.

The course effectively highlights the benefits of having a dynamic instruction strategy. Dynamic instructions along with the use of technology allows for more flexibility which can benefit the student in a multitude of ways.

I particularly enjoyed learning about rubrics and how allowing the students to participate in the development of the rubrics can also facilitate learning.

I found the importance objective and subjective assessments. I often give essay questions and agree that essay type questions help the instructor gain insight to student's level of understanding beyond the simply recalling facts.

This module discussed diagnostic, formative and summative assessments and the value each has. I like the idea of administering diagnostic assessments that have no grade value, but help students understand or identify concepts they must know and/or review. 

With the continuous evolution and development of new technology, instructors have a wide selection of assessment tools. All tools can be beneficial, however, it is the instructor's responsibility to select the best one for their course. It is also critical that they ask students for feedback on new tools being utilized.

The use of a well written rubric will faciliate consistentcy for grading as well as clear intructions for students on what is expected.

I learned that students must be made aware of the skills required to be successful in an online course. The instructor must also model the desired behavior.

Establishing a communication code of conduct can improve participation as it nurtures a positve learning environment.