Alternative Assessment
Instructors must have a good lesson plan to develop critical-thinking in their students. It’s not just teaching a set of facts or bits of information that the students will never use again. Students need to be able to analyze and evaluate information, solve problems, and communicate effectively. The student’s satisfaction with the online environment affects retention. Instructor’s responsiveness, quality of the online instruction and timely feedback are important factors for student retention and engagement.
Two key factors in increasing retention in an online course are student engagement and integration. In an online environment the instructor should design courses that are learner-centered. The student needs to feel comfortable in the online environment and they must perceive the instructor is enthusiastic about the course and genuinely cares about them.
Alternate Assessment for Unit 7 - Retention and Engagement in Distance Education
It’s important to clearly state the purpose of the assignment. The instructor’s responsibility is to engage the learner early on in the course by offering collaborative assignments for the students to build relationships with the instructor and classmates.
Objectives: Students will
· Define retention and engagement
· Discuss ways to increase retention
· Collaborate in a team project
· Build communication skills
Engage students by using technology tools that are useful and fun. For example, assigning teams that will work together to define and share ideas for solutions to the problem of retention. They will individually find and document resources, such as; case studies, research papers or videos. Each team member will summarize their own resources and then contribute their findings into one report.
Each team can choose either a written document or an electronic presentation for their final project. Utilizing online tools, such as Google+ docs and video conferencing, to collaborate in real-time will enhance their communication skills and hold them responsible for their own learning. The best approach for communication is to have the team members invite the instructor to join a Google+ conference call, also known as a Hangout. This would allow for instant feedback and answering any questions the students may have.
Communication is vital in the online environment for students as well as instructors. Sending emails is an effective contact method. Instructors need to respond promptly to student inquiries and provide feedback on a regular basis. Posting helpful documents on the Blackboard system is useful as a reference.
This 2-week assignment will have a deliverable after the first week that includes each student’s resource contributions submitted to the Blackboard. This will allow for the entire class to benefit from the research done by each student.
Grading the assignment and students performance would include:
· Documentation of the resources each team member contributed to the Retention Project. (Part 1) (30 pts.)
· A summary from each team member on his or her own contribution to the project (10 pts.)
· The final collaboration Retention Project. (Part 2) (40 pts.)
· Deadlines met (Part 1 & Part 2) (20 pts.)
· Responding to a project questionnaire generated by the instructor. This will aid in refining the project.(Extra Credit 5 pts.)
Instructors must continue their research on the trends of engagement and retention. By measuring and analyzing course completion rates and student satisfaction rates they can make improvements to their online course.
Two key factors in increasing retention in an online course are student engagement and integration. In an online environment the instructor should design courses that are learner-centered. The student needs to feel comfortable in the online environment and they must perceive the instructor is enthusiastic about the course and genuinely cares about them.
Alternate Assessment for Unit 7 - Retention and Engagement in Distance Education
It’s important to clearly state the purpose of the assignment. The instructor’s responsibility is to engage the learner early on in the course by offering collaborative assignments for the students to build relationships with the instructor and classmates.
Objectives: Students will
· Define retention and engagement
· Discuss ways to increase retention
· Collaborate in a team project
· Build communication skills
Engage students by using technology tools that are useful and fun. For example, assigning teams that will work together to define and share ideas for solutions to the problem of retention. They will individually find and document resources, such as; case studies, research papers or videos. Each team member will summarize their own resources and then contribute their findings into one report.
Each team can choose either a written document or an electronic presentation for their final project. Utilizing online tools, such as Google+ docs and video conferencing, to collaborate in real-time will enhance their communication skills and hold them responsible for their own learning. The best approach for communication is to have the team members invite the instructor to join a Google+ conference call, also known as a Hangout. This would allow for instant feedback and answering any questions the students may have.
Communication is vital in the online environment for students as well as instructors. Sending emails is an effective contact method. Instructors need to respond promptly to student inquiries and provide feedback on a regular basis. Posting helpful documents on the Blackboard system is useful as a reference.
This 2-week assignment will have a deliverable after the first week that includes each student’s resource contributions submitted to the Blackboard. This will allow for the entire class to benefit from the research done by each student.
Grading the assignment and students performance would include:
· Documentation of the resources each team member contributed to the Retention Project. (Part 1) (30 pts.)
· A summary from each team member on his or her own contribution to the project (10 pts.)
· The final collaboration Retention Project. (Part 2) (40 pts.)
· Deadlines met (Part 1 & Part 2) (20 pts.)
· Responding to a project questionnaire generated by the instructor. This will aid in refining the project.(Extra Credit 5 pts.)
Instructors must continue their research on the trends of engagement and retention. By measuring and analyzing course completion rates and student satisfaction rates they can make improvements to their online course.