In this chapter, we will cover:
- Assignment alternatives
- Involving students in assessment design
- Extending quizzes
- Simple formative feedback
- Encouraging competition
Assessment is a key part of education. For many students, the opportunity to earn marks through assessment is a driving motivator. Electronic assessment allows teachers to conduct a wider variety of assessment, and to do so more efficiently than traditional forms of assessment.
In this chapter, we will look at assessment-related Moodle modules, large and small, and some that are capable of involving students in innovative ways.
An assignment is a significant form of assessment, allowing students to demonstrate the understanding they have developed over a period of learning.
Many teachers struggle to break away from traditional essays and reports. As well as the assignment types available in core Moodle, there are some well constructed, contributed assignment types that are sure to lure the most ardent traditionalist away from "red pen on paper".
- Peer Review Assignment Type
- NanoGong Assignment Type
- UploadPDF Assignment Type
Who said writing questions was the teacher's job? For students, the challenge of creating questions encourages them to think in a new and different way about the material they are studying. The incentive of being able to create questions that may be used in their own future assessment is also a thrill.
- Question Creation module
Like many parts of Moodle, the Quiz module is extensible. New question types can be added to the Quiz module so that teachers can produce more creative questions and challenge learners from a wider range.
- Drag-and-drop matching question type
- Drag-and-drop ordering question type
- Image target question type
Students are motivated to earn marks, but that doesn't mean you can't sneak in a bit of formative assessment without them realizing it. Simply encouraging students to anticipate small snippets of the material can probe their knowledge, reinforcing their correct understandings and challenging their misunderstandings.
- Hidden Text filter
It is a disservice to delude students into believing that they standout when they are in fact falling behind. Displaying the highest standard for assignments and other assessable items on a leader-board can motivate students to compete, while recognizing those who are excelling.
- Course Results block