Friday, 24 July 2015

Week 5: Project-based Learning, WebQuests, and Rubrics



Hello Everyone,

Week 5 paved the way for new techniques in alternative assessment. The articles of this week taught us how to select the suitable test tool and the types of alternative assessment. We discovered two new techniques which are the project-based learning (PBL) and the WebQuest. The two represent good procedures for personal and mental development for the teacher and the students as well, in the sense that they require collaborative work for all of the participants (the teacher and the students) and brain storming for the students. The strategies of these two methods can also arouse the students' motivation, improve their communication skills, advance their personal growth … etc. They are marvelous approaches a teacher can use to stimulate his students and raise the ranking of his educational institute.
Though they are new for me and I have a minor amount of knowledge about them, yet I hope at the end of this course I would be able to master them and apply them in my forthcoming classes.   

The next step of this week is very nice, creating a rubric. The rubric provided an easy and useful way for me and my students about how to complete their task on the appropriate time and how to gain the marks they wish to obtain. The rubric I devised is for the fourth stage students to assess their graduation research. Every year most of them late to deliver their research, I hope this year, having identified what is required from them, they will complete their research and bring it to the department on time!       

Concerning the Extra Credit Task – creating a WebQuest, still I am collecting data about it and I hope by the end of the week I would create one! By the way before this task I have described  a technology solution for the problem I have identified last week. 

 Finally, I would like to thank my dear course colleagues, who commented on my discussion on the nicenet and those who just read it. I highly appreciate your delightful comments on this week and the former week discussions.

Many thanks and gratitude to our brilliant course instructor, Donna for her continuous enlightenments, encouragements, and support

Abeer Ali
Iraq

3 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Hello Ali!

    I agree with you that some of us still have little experience using tools like rubrics and WebQuests but this course has come to familiarize us with such. Honestly, alternative assessment increases and enhances student motivation and personal development. We should encourage and practice it.

    Nsah Mala
    Cameroon

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  3. Hi Ali!
    I'd rather add that alternative assessment makes the teacher examiner to be more pragmatic and honest above doubt while grading.Alternative assessment though is bothersome and time taking, if sought support by the technology it can be an excellent and positive testing tool.
    Ali
    Pakistan

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