Communicate: Evaluation Methods and Communication Practices 4.1.1

Communicate: Evaluation Methods and Communication Practices 4.1.1

Communication Practices in the Online Environment: Effective Feedback

As in all settings, be they industrial, business, or educational, effective feedback is inherently dependant on good communication practices.  In particular, the educational practice of marking up and/or grading submissions, rubrics, and projects has the potential to accelerate student learning.   Timely grading and feedback practices give students more time to work on their goals.  Being fair and consistent in the grading and feedback generates student trust.  Sharing positive comments as well as comments that addresses weak areas gives meaning and depth to the feedback since students will be able to work on the areas targeted for improvement. Communicating the feedback in a timely fashion and in a respectful way keeps students engaged in the class and, more importantly, engaged in their consistent growth and development.

Authentic Feedback- Online Learners

Authentic feedback is so much more important to online learners than simply posting the grades earned.  Authentic feedback can take the form of automatically programmed feedback on test questions to in depth commentary on student work.  Rubrics are one way in which authentic feedback is delivered. Here is a screen shot of programmed feedback on a test.

Feedback to Enrich Student Online Experience

Feedback from the instructor is essential  for the student to have a valuable online experience.  The feeedback should be supportive, yet guiding.  Here is an example of feedback (both automatic and personal) from a short essay test question:

From a short answer question on quia.com:

Write a summary for the three assigned websites- make it like an introduction; something that would get a student to read it. Be sure to give at least three examples of where rocks or minerals are used in your very own home! For each example, describe it and why it is useful. Give an overall statement of how minerals are obtained. You should start this on a word document and copy and paste your final answer in here by Friday. Unlimited attempts and time allowed. Your response: How would you feel if your mother exclaimed that you were having rocks for dinner? Well, rocks are already a part of our diet. Rocks contain minerals that are also found in our food. Not only are rocks in my diet, but they’re also in my utensils! Here are a few examples; quartz is found in glassware and aluminum is found in our pots and pans. Rocks are even used for building. Feldspar and gypsum are discovered in dry wall boards, which are used to make up the walls. Did you know that plastic, a very common material, is made up of oil? How does that relate to rocks? Oil is found under many layers of rocks. Without rocks to cover up decaying material, there would be no such thing as crude oil. When we get crudeoil we purify it to get what we need to make plastic and other things. When we dig up ores it is called mining. We smelt the ores to separate it from anything that we don’t need. This results in the metal steel and in many others too. Who would have thought that our very own life depends on rocks?  Sample answer: This is an EXAMPLE to give you an idea of how you did, or since you are allowed unlimited attempts, this might guide you in writing your own essay. The numbers in parenthesis are to keep track of points. You see here that 12 points are possible with this example essay. It is a good idea to always write to earn more credit than the assignment calls for! Minerals are everywhere! In fact it is impossible to live with out minerals. (1) In our very own bodies exist a dynamic range of minerals that keep us alive and thriving. In fact, over 4% of our mass is made up of minerals. (2) We get these minerals from the foods that we eat. (3) In turn, the foods that we eat get the minerals from either the foods they eat or the dirt/water in which the food grows. (4) Sometimes minerals are added to our foods or water. (5) These minerals are mined. (6) During mining, ores are taken from the ground and the useful minerals are extracted using one or several processes. (7) For metals used to make steel, the process of smelting is used. (8) Smelting separates the mineral from the rock by melting it. (9) Three examples of rock or minerals used in my home include: quartz for glassware, aluminum for my cooking pans, and feldspar for the drywall boards used in my walls. (10, 11, 12) You can find out so many cool uses of minerals and rocks in your very own homes if you check out these websites! Answers may vary. Points earned: 8 out of 10

Instructor's comments: Good job, Roksanna. You give more than the minimum examples and you elaborate with a several of them.  Most of your examples are appropriate and I can clearly tell that you have achieved mastery over this topic.  One suggestion for you is to look at the definition of a mineral- and compare that with your example of crude oil. Consider why that example may have attracted my attention.  I saw only one spelling error/typo, and appreciate the conciseness of your writing.