Part 3 Reflections
I have reached the end of this class and I can see a
difference in my skills. Whereas part 1 was about the roles an instructor
plays, and part 2 dealt with facilitator roles, part 3 relates to assessments,
diversity, ethics, and common problems in online teaching. These areas are
essential to understand because they relate to teaching in a way a student
learns. With assessments it was explained they are used to understand what
students are learning and how. There are three types of assessments:
diagnostic, formative and summative. Diagnostic are given before the beginning
of class to determine what the student knows. These are usually samples such as
papers or pre-tests. However, formative and summative are more common and can
be confusing. Formative assessments are given to students while the students
are still in the class to see what they are picking up from the subject. There
are several kinds of formative assessments such as midterms, papers, observing
students in class, journals and homework. These are great because if a student
is struggling, the instructor can work with the student to help them understand
better.
Summative assessments are given at the end of class and
examples could be finals, final papers, student evaluations, and portfolios.
The result is what did the student learn and what issues have arisen from the
class? Evaluations are great to help the teacher know what they need to improve
to help students. Another assessment to "test" students is authentic
assessment. In this assessment, students must demonstrate what they know
instead of just writing about it. One of the best ways for a teacher to assess
a student is through rubrics. Rubrics clearly state what the student should
mention in the assignment, and how they get a higher grade for the assignment,
such as clear, concise writing with sources. However, it should be mentioned
that to assess the student, the assessments should be fair. The teacher needs
to make sure the learning outcomes are clear, that the assessments and the
subject are the same, that they use different tools, that the teacher is ready
to help the student, that they engage the students, the results are interpreted
correctly, and to evaluate assessments
When mentioning fair assessments, diversity and ethics
plays a part. Teachers need to be aware of a student's background and how it
plays into learning. For example, humor might work for some ethnic groups, but
in other groups it could be considered offensive. A teacher needs to learn what
is offensive and to avoid it. A teacher could learn the culture by asking the
student to talk about themselves. This is a good way to learn, not only for the
student but the teacher. Ethics is another part of teaching and a teacher needs
to know what is wrong for the class, even if they don't think it is. A major
example is plagiarism where someone takes directly without citing a source.
Many times, it is a mistake that can be corrected but other times a student is
just taking without using their own words. This can cause many problems,
including expelled from school or the teacher being fired. One way to avoid
this issue is for the teacher to change assignments often. This is just one
common problem though. As an instructor, teaching a class means to understand
problems will arise, such as students not participating or online fights. An
instructor will learn various tactics to handle these, such as steering the
conversation away from the hot topic, and helping the student understand how to
participate in a way that benefits everyone.
These lessons help me understand what a teacher does
besides teach. They must look at the assessments to see where students are
struggling so they can make it easier for all. They look at what is working or
what isn’t, so they can make it easier for students. They could create a rubric
so what is expected is listed. They need to take in consideration the student's
background, so they can learn even with disadvantages. The teachers need to
keep up with what is offensive and how they can deal with it. They also must
watch out for plagiarism and making sure they are able to handle common
problems with online teaching. All of this will result in a kind, caring
instructor who makes the learning experience valuable for all the
students.
Bibliography
Suskie, L. (2000). Fair Assessment Practices: Giving
Students Equitable. AAHE Bulletin, 16. https://bb9.govst.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1646171-dt-content-rid-14746177_1/courses/ONTL-6201-01_18SU/FairAssessmentPractices_Suskie_Lesson8_1_ONTL6201.pdf
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