Quiz changes

Some of the better students said they did not like how the quizzes were set up, and I could tell the scores were getting lower over the first three chapters. I made a change and set it up so that the questions are no longer in random order and that they are in the same order as the text. Hopefully the class will do better on the next chapter.

I also changed the submission view so that they could see the other answers to the questions after the quiz due date. The midterm and then final will have a subset of the questions so they will need to study all of them anyway.

Discussion extra credit

This semester I changed the way I encourage students to communicate with each other on the discussion board. They still get extra credit for writing to each other, but I tightened the criteria to earn points and placed a limit on the points possible.

I also changed how I record the grade data. Last semester I included the points with the grade item for each chapter topic, but this skewed the stats for discussion points. I also felt the need to break out the score for each chapter topic to show each part of the score (original post, replies to others, and replies from others).

This semester I have one grade item for all chapter topic discussion extra credit, and the comments for that only list the total extra credit points for each topic. After the first grading session, it feels more manageable.

A student's thoughts on testing

Lopez, Teresa (2011, September 10). What are we achieving in our testing [Msg 2469894]? Message posted to https://d2l.losrios.edu/d2l/lms/discussions/messageLists/frame.d2l?isShared=False&fid=57732&tid=105159&ou=178235

Teresa Lopez, 10 September 2011 (HCD320 discussion, message ID 2469894, https://d2l.losrios.edu/d2l/lp/homepage/home.d2l?ou=178235
Fall 2011, Discussion topic "Testing in an Online Class")

What are we achieving in our testing?

This is my first semester with online classes, so online testing is new to me.

I have taken a few tests already, and as Christina said, my teacher expected for me to use my notes/text... but there was a time limit on the test, so if I hadn't been very familiar with the material, looking it up would have been futile in getting a good grade.

It would have taken me too long to access the answers if I didn't know the material to a good extent.

The teacher also makes the students use the LockDown Browser which prevents the test taker from using the computer they are testing on to do any searches, etc.

Christina also made the good point that the tests that are done in person will eventually reveal if we are learning what we need to.

When it comes down to it... for the online part we could have a brainiac do all the work for us and we would get incredible grades.... but WHY are we taking the class in the first place?

Certainly, some of our classes are to fulfill requirements and, at least at first, are of little interest to us.  But we should realize the incredible blessing we have in being able to take ANY class and learn ANYTHING.

We are living in an incredible time and country where we are ABLE to take classes and learn.

WOW !

I think that we too often forget that for THOUSANDS of years (and even now in the greater percentage of populations around the world... even some here in poor areas) people COULDN'T take classes and learn what is served to us on a "silver platter."

If we take online classes and cheat, we cheat OURSELVES out of the incredible gift of learning and growing..... and for what?

A grade on a piece of paper?

Knowledge and personal growth is SO MUCH MORE than that.

I see online testing as a HELP to ME.

It is to help me see how I am doing and to adjust my work accordingly so I can get all I can from my classes... so I can learn and grow as much as possible.

I look at tests as I look at going to the dentist.

The dentist is helping ME.

I don't want her to find any cavities (I don't want to have any),

BUT if I DO have cavities, I WANT her to find them.

If she doesn't they will only get worse, and that is worse than getting the needed filling.

Tests are there to help me too.

Would I really want to loose that help by cheating?

No, I would not.  :)

Anonymous feedback

I created a Google form to collect anonymous feedback from students, and one used it to ask that I extend the deadline for assignments from 9pm to 11:59pm. They are due the night before our class. I picked that time for a couple of reasons. For one, I am awake at 9pm and therefore could be active on email or otherwise available should a student have a problem. Also I wanted them to get some sleep before class.

In reality, I do not check my email around 9pm Thursdays when assignments are due, and the technology we use is pretty reliable. Also, I remember being a student and getting work done during the wee hours of a due date. So I changed the deadlines on all assignments to 9am on Fridays, which is when our class begins. I posted a class announcement about this and will share the news in person with them this Friday. I will use a poll to ask them if they noticed the change before I make an announcement about it in class.

Time on roll

Today I spent a long time taking role, as I commented on one answer from each of the students' "Meet Me in 20 Questions" worksheet from last week. I think they appreciated the extra time, and after the first few I joked with the remainders that they were worried about what I would ask them when I got to their turn. I am not sure if it will help me remember their names, which is one of the reasons for doing the activity. The other is to help them feel a sense of connection, and I hope that it does.