Assessing Collaborative Efforts

In the traditional classroom environment, assessment is usually done by the teacher/instructor. For most part, this assessment is of individual student effort. As education develops and changes are made, this type of assessment is becoming more and more obsolete. Replacing this assessment is what many educators now called ‘collaborative assessment’ This assessment occur in a collaborative setting of a learning environment. Such an environment is to be found online distance education.

Online learning has revolutionized the way many individuals learn and are assessed. The traditional individual learner who was once the master of his/her own destiny in the traditional classroom, is now a part of what is called, a learning community. This setting, according to Siemens, is the reflection of what society now entails. He further said that ‘the individualistic model of education does not reflect society and the network age we live in today’. The real world consists of people living and working in a labor society, and so to mirror that image, today’s learner need to replicate that pattern of behavior. In their blog, http://elearningindex.wordpress.com/academic-work/teaching-and-learning-in-online-distance-education/online-collaborative-work-and-motivation/ the e-learning index said ‘through social interaction, collaborative work can give students access to ideas, material, and emotional support that may otherwise be absent in the traditional classroom’. This helps to create an atmosphere for the new learner to online education.

However, it is not always easy for this individual, so in the blog, http://suifaijohnmak.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/collaborative-learning-in-an-online-envrionment Suifaijohnmakk said ‘sometimes there may be conflicting views, arguments or strong criticisms between people, and such connections and interactions may result in alienation’. These are challenges that must be addressed if collaboration online is to be successful. Siemens suggested three requirements to support successful collaboration in an online environment if assessment is to be carried out effectively. They are 1) a high level of trust among members of the community 2) well-connected information sources, and 3) external connections to tightly knit groups. These will help to create an environment that is conducive to collaborative assessment.

Finally, Siemens suggested four models for assessment in this type of collaborative environment. If the three requirements to be met, then the four models of assessment will be well received. The models are 1) peer assessment 2) feedback reception from online communities like wikis, and blogs 3) instructor’s assessment based on students’ contributions to these online communities, and 4) the instructor’s assessment based on metrics from learning management systems (a time on task situation). However, he further went on to say that the individual student grade would be awarded mainly from the third model, as collaboration is an important part of community learning.


References:

Siemens, G. (2008). Assessment of collaborative learning. (Vodcast). Principles of
Distance Education DVD produced by Laureate Education, Inc., Baltimore.

Siemens, G. (2008). Learning communities. (Vodcast). Principles of
Distance Education DVD produced by Laureate Education, Inc., Baltimore.