Assessing Collaborative Efforts

1. How should participation in a collaborative learning community be assessed?

According to Siemens (2008), collaborative learning communities can be assessed
• through peer assessment;
• through online communities;
• by educators based on student contributions ;
• by educators based on metrics supplied by the management systems.

2. How do the varying levels of skill and knowledge students bring to a course affect the instructor's "fair and equitable assessment" of learning?

Assessment is based on stated outcomes, yet the concept of assessment has broadened and students are also assessed on the degree of the student’s development throughout the course.

3. If a student does not want to network or collaborate in a learning community for an online course, what should the other members of the learning community do?

Students in the learning community can start looking out for them. In the case of the educator, he/she can see when the student is in the course and call him in to communicate or the colleagues can communicate to get them to participate or simply look out to see if they are having any problem with their coursework.

4. What role should the instructor play?

The instructor is the person that is responsible for the degree of social presence that is managed in the online community, and they way that this is managed is by setting the rules in the beginning, yet giving the student a sense of comfort and belonging. The instructor is also responsible for letting the students feel that he/she is there to assist when a hurdle appears in the way of progression preventing the student from feeling overwhelmed.

5. What impact would this have on his or her assessment plan?

According to Siemens, assessment is a teaching based activity which is based on authentic activities and that when the instructor assesses they are also assessing their participation as educators.

References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Siemens, G.).(2008). Assessment of collaborative learning. Principles of Distance Education. Baltimore, MD: Author.