Using WebCT for Student Assessment, Learning & Course Evaluation

Gary Cziko [email: g-cziko@uiuc.edu]

Educational Psychology

AT&T Fellows Spotlight Seminar 2000/01/14

• 0. Setup
  • Web-connected computer with projector
  • browser
  • open link to this outline
  • open separate window with web links to WebCT for 313 and 290

• I. Overview
  • Teaching goals
  • Using WebCT for EdPsy 313 and 390
  • Applications to participants' teaching goals
  • Next steps
  • Questions and discussion

• II. Teaching goals
  • Survey of participants' goals
  • My goals
    • Learning
      • make students more active learners
        • reduce role of lectures
        • use cooperative learning
      • use quizzes as learning activities
      • ensure that students have done the assigned readings before class
        • frees up class time for discussion and active learning
    • Student assessment
      • formative assessment of student learning
      • reduce or eliminate manual grading of quizzes, tests and projects
      • facilitate student record keeping
    • Course evaluation
      • facilitate student feedback on
        • general organization of course
        • specific course activities

• III. Using WebCT for EdPsy 313 and 390
  • A. WebCT [www.webct.com]
    • CT = course tools
    • provides Web environment for
      • *** quizzes
      • ** surveys
      • * communication (email and bulletin boards like WebBoard)
      • course content
      • presentations
    • since Fall 1999 supported on campus by Center for Educational Technologies (CET) [www.cet.uiuc.edu]
  • B. EdPsy 313: "Child language and education") [www.ed.uiuc.edu/courses/edpsy313]
    • "basic" application
    • quizzes
      • short quizzes of main ideas to be done each week before class
      • can take quiz over up to five times with extra credit if get all items correct on first try within time limit (1 minute per item)
      • DEMO taking a quiz in WebCT {use student logon}
      • feedback
        • DEMO student feedback
        • DEMO instructor {Fall99->EDPSY313}
          • item anslysis -> indicates what should be reviewed in class
          • individual student {practice quiz}
      • DEMO control over quiz using settings
        • time available
        • how much time allowed
        • password control
        • repeats
        • scoring
        • feedback
    • surveys
      • anoymous student evaluation of
        • general course
        • specific classes
        • DEMO examples
    • DEMO creating items, tests and surveys
    • will use WebCT Bulletin Board this semester to replace troublesome WebBoard for weekly writing assignments and reactions
  • C. EdPsy 290/390: "Elements of (educational) statistics" [www.ed.uiuc.edu/courses/edpsy290]
    • more advanced use of WebCT {EdPsy290; Spring 2000]
    • course organization
      • meets in Oregon computing site with computer for each student [photo]
      • five cycles consisting of [calendar]
        • lecture/demo
        • study plus practice quizzes
        • group quiz (teams of 3 or 4 students)
        • group project
        • individual quiz
      • final exam
    • use of item groups allows
      • repeated (5) practice quizzes
      • repeated (5) individual quizzes
    • new use of WebCT for group projects
      • DEMO Project 1 item types

• IV. Applications to participants' teaching goals
  • DISCUSSION: How could you use WebCT's tools to accomplish your teaching goals?

• V. Next steps
  • find out more about WebCT [www.webct.com]
  • request course account from CET [www.cet.uiuc.edu]
  • attend CET or other workshops on WebCT
  • see me [email: g-cziko@uiuc.edu]
  • obtain support
    • Ed Tech Board [www.provost.uiuc.edu/etb]
    • Teaching Advancement Board [www.provost.uiuc.edu/tab]
    • other special opportunities (e.g., ATT Fellows program)

• VI. Questions and discussion