Summary+of+discussions

Group Three would like to thank everyone who participated in our discussion looking at assessment in all its varied forms. We have summarized the discussion below. Question #1 pondered why multiple choice questionnaires are the most popular method for assessing information literacy instruction. The general consensus of the group included that it is an easy way to grade for the instructor; it is easy to review the material with a class; and finally that students have been conditioned to take these tests and are accustomed to this practice. In addition, asynchronous teaching often relies on students being taught utilizing the lecture format. Students in these types of courses are then evaluated via a multiple choice test which allows them to review their corrected answers immediately. However, as a classmate pointed out, these tests are not without faults and it takes a good amount of work to create a multiple choice questionnaire that is of quality. Question #2 looked at which method of assessment students prefer for themselves, with most agreeing on formative evaluation. The general consensus was that this form of test allows students to interact with the teacher in order to assess how much the student has learned. The pressure is also lessened in a situation where one can provide their thought process, thereby providing validity for their answers; as opposed to a multiple choice test which is simply right or wrong. Essays are also a favorite since it allows students to write their thoughts on paper and tie them together. Subject matter becomes integrated in such a way that it allows the students to explore the topic further. Question #3 asked which forms of assessment seem fair, and which do not? There was some consensus concerning the least fair method. Fixed answer multiple choice tests were overwhelmingly chosen as the least fair method of assessment. It was highlighted that these test rely heavily on memorization not comprehension and answers can easily be faked. It was much harder to come to a consensus about the fairest method of assessment. Observation was mentioned as an option. It was stated that the observation would need to be designed in a way that is not obtrusive, as that may skew the results. This method allows the assessor to view actual behavioral habits of students and determine actual levels of understanding. Another option that was presented was open answer assessments. It was argued that this type of assessment allows students to formulate their own answers and truly demonstrate their understanding of the topic. A couple of classmates did raise the question that the effectiveness of an assessment can depend on the information that is being reviewed. If the information is straightforward and based primarily on facts and terms, then a fixed answer choice may be the most practical and efficient choice for the instructor. Similarly if the information deals with more complex themes, an essay format may be more appropriate.  Question #4 asked participants to reflect on how they would assess student's abilities in researching information in a library environment. Several of the posts stated that the methods employed to assess students would depend on amount of time that the instructor had with the students. If the instructor has one class with students then a fixed answer assessment may be the most practical. However, if the instructor has a longer period of time to work with students then an open ended assessment would be more informative. One of the posts discussed a method of capturing the student's screen while they perform online searches as a way to observe a student's understanding of the research process. While it was mentioned that this could be time consuming to evaluate, it may in fact provide the best information about a student's understanding.