IT Assessment

IT's potential to transform teaching and learning is realized through assessment. Evidence is critical to teaching and learning to gauge improvement, accountability, and so forth. Although there are multiple ways to accumulate useful evidence (assessment, evaluation, e-portfolios), asking appropriate questions and matching assessment strategies to the questions are prerequisites to obtaining good information. And, while accumulating evidence is one step in improving teaching and learning with technology, to be effective it must be linked to improvement strategies and changes in practice.

Questions the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) explores include:

What kind of evidentiary framework will help improve student learning?
Teaching and learning with technology facilitates student learning through the activities it enables, such as increased access, ease-of use, engagement, support, feedback, interactivity, collaboration, and networking. What types of evidence support this?
How can institutions develop a culture of evidence that supports the continuous improvement of teaching and learning?

Get an Overview of the Topic

Marilee Bresciani, How Do You Know What Your Students Are Learning, ELI Web Symposium, May 25, 2006.
Marilee Bresciani, Examining Institutional Transformation Through Self-Review, Proceedings of the Australian Universities Quality Forum, 2004.
Peggy Maki, Assessing What Students Learn in Technology-Based Learning Environments, ELI Web Seminar, September 15, 2006.
Joni E. Spurlin, Technology and Learning: Defining What You Want to Assess, ELI White Paper, July 2006.

Additional Resources

Podcasts Presentations Relevant Web Sites Related Writings

Podcasts

ELI 2006 Fall Focus Session, Supporting Learning with Technology: Assessment's Role, September 11-12, 2006.
Podcasts include:
- Bresciani on Outcomes-Based Assessment, Marilee Bresciani and Jarret Cummings (Pre-Session Interview)
- Charles Dziuban at the ELI Fall Focus Session on Assessment, Charles Dzuiban, et al (Session Audio)
- Deborah Keyek-Franssen at the ELI Fall Focus Session on Assessment, Deborah Keyek-Franssen (Session Audio)
- Maki on Assessment of Technology-Based Learning, Peggy Maki and Jarret Cummings (Pre-session Interview)
- Karen Swan at the ELI Fall Focus Session on Assessment, Karen Swan (Session Audio)

Presentations

Deborah Keyek-Franssen, Asking Good Questions by Starting with Key Decisions, ELI 2006 Fall Focus Session, September 2006.
Patsy D. Moskal and Joni E. Spurlin, Assessment Methodologies, ELI 2006 Fall Focus Session, September 2006.
Kathy Schmidt, Where to Look for Learning Impact, ELI 2006 Fall Focus Session, September 2006.

Relevant Web Sites

Assessment in Higher Education
This site, supported by Central Queensland University in Australia, is a repository of best practices in student assessment. It contains a variety of resource links to assessment software, discussion lists, articles, and journals.
Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment (JTLA)
This peer-reviewed, online journal contains scholarly contributions on assessment, including the use of technology in assessment and the impact of technology on learning.
Assessing the Impact of Technology-Rich Spaces on Student Learning
This Web site, developed by the University Planning and Analysis Office at North Carolina State University, provides links to a wealth of resources that illustrate the broad spectrum of thinking about assessing the impact of technology on student learning.

Related Writings

Assessing Transformation, National Learning Infrastructure Initiative, June 20, 2003.
John D. Bransford, Ann L. Brown, and Rodney R. Cocking, eds., How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School (Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 1999).
Marilee Bresciani, "Expert-Driven Assessment: Making It Meaningful," (Boulder, Colo.: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, Research Bulletin, Issue 21, 2003).
Marilee Bresciani, Carrie L. Zelna, and James A. Anderson, Assessing Student Learning and Development: A Handbook for Practioners (Washington, D.C.: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, 2004).
Bonnie Chauncey, "Alternative Assessment in Higher Education: Web Sites for a Learner-Centered Approach," C&RL News, Vol. 65, No. 10, November 2004.
Arthur W. Chickering and Zelda F. Gamson, "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education," AAHE Bulletin, March 1987.
Frank W. Connolly, "It's Not the Change, It's the Difference: Evaluating Technology on Campus," EDUCAUSE Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 4, 2005.
Chris Dede, "The Role of Emerging Technologies for Knowledge Mobilization, Dissemination, and Use in Education," George Mason University, 1999.
Stephen C. Ehrmann, "Transformative Assessment of Educational Uses of Technology: Early Glimpses," The TLT Group/Flashlight Program, 2001.
Robert Fox and Sue Trinidad, "Assessment Driving the Learning, Technology Supporting the Process," Learning Technology Newsletter, Vol. 8, No. 3, July 2006, pp. 13–15.
Peggy Maki, Assessing for Learning: Building a Sustainable Commitment Across the Institution (Sterling, Va.: Stylus Publishing, 2004; revised edition in 2007).
Michael Orey, ed., Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching, and Technology, e-book, 2001.
Martin Oliver, "An Introduction to the Evaluation of Learning Technology," Educational Technology & Society, Vol. 3, No. 4, 2000.
Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, Understanding by Design, Expanded 2nd Edition (Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2005).

ELI Learning Principles and Practices IT Assessment Interaction and Engagement Learning Space Design Successful Learning		IT Assessment IT Assessment IT's potential to transform teaching and learning is realized through assessment. Evidence is critical to teaching and learning to gauge improvement, accountability, and so forth. Although there are multiple ways to accumulate useful evidence (assessment, evaluation, e-portfolios), asking appropriate questions and matching assessment strategies to the questions are prerequisites to obtaining good information. And, while accumulating evidence is one step in improving teaching and learning with technology, to be effective it must be linked to improvement strategies and changes in practice. Questions the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) explores include: What kind of evidentiary framework will help improve student learning? Teaching and learning with technology facilitates student learning through the activities it enables, such as increased access, ease-of use, engagement, support, feedback, interactivity, collaboration, and networking. What types of evidence support this? How can institutions develop a culture of evidence that supports the continuous improvement of teaching and learning? Get an Overview of the Topic Marilee Bresciani, How Do You Know What Your Students Are Learning, ELI Web Symposium, May 25, 2006. Marilee Bresciani, Examining Institutional Transformation Through Self-Review, Proceedings of the Australian Universities Quality Forum, 2004. Peggy Maki, Assessing What Students Learn in Technology-Based Learning Environments, ELI Web Seminar, September 15, 2006. Joni E. Spurlin, Technology and Learning: Defining What You Want to Assess, ELI White Paper, July 2006. Additional Resources Podcasts Presentations Relevant Web Sites Related Writings Podcasts ELI 2006 Fall Focus Session, Supporting Learning with Technology: Assessment's Role, September 11-12, 2006. Podcasts include: Bresciani on Outcomes-Based Assessment, Marilee Bresciani and Jarret Cummings (Pre-Session Interview) Charles Dziuban at the ELI Fall Focus Session on Assessment, Charles Dzuiban, et al (Session Audio) Deborah Keyek-Franssen at the ELI Fall Focus Session on Assessment, Deborah Keyek-Franssen (Session Audio) Maki on Assessment of Technology-Based Learning, Peggy Maki and Jarret Cummings (Pre-session Interview) Karen Swan at the ELI Fall Focus Session on Assessment, Karen Swan (Session Audio) Presentations Deborah Keyek-Franssen, Asking Good Questions by Starting with Key Decisions, ELI 2006 Fall Focus Session, September 2006. Patsy D. Moskal and Joni E. Spurlin, Assessment Methodologies, ELI 2006 Fall Focus Session, September 2006. Kathy Schmidt, Where to Look for Learning Impact, ELI 2006 Fall Focus Session, September 2006. Relevant Web Sites Assessment in Higher Education This site, supported by Central Queensland University in Australia, is a repository of best practices in student assessment. It contains a variety of resource links to assessment software, discussion lists, articles, and journals. Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment (JTLA) This peer-reviewed, online journal contains scholarly contributions on assessment, including the use of technology in assessment and the impact of technology on learning. Assessing the Impact of Technology-Rich Spaces on Student Learning This Web site, developed by the University Planning and Analysis Office at North Carolina State University, provides links to a wealth of resources that illustrate the broad spectrum of thinking about assessing the impact of technology on student learning. Related Writings Assessing Transformation, National Learning Infrastructure Initiative, June 20, 2003. John D. Bransford, Ann L. Brown, and Rodney R. Cocking, eds., How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School (Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 1999). Marilee Bresciani, "Expert-Driven Assessment: Making It Meaningful," (Boulder, Colo.: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, Research Bulletin, Issue 21, 2003). Marilee Bresciani, Carrie L. Zelna, and James A. Anderson, Assessing Student Learning and Development: A Handbook for Practioners (Washington, D.C.: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, 2004). Bonnie Chauncey, "Alternative Assessment in Higher Education: Web Sites for a Learner-Centered Approach," C&RL News, Vol. 65, No. 10, November 2004. Arthur W. Chickering and Zelda F. Gamson, "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education," AAHE Bulletin, March 1987. Frank W. Connolly, "It's Not the Change, It's the Difference: Evaluating Technology on Campus," EDUCAUSE Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 4, 2005. Chris Dede, "The Role of Emerging Technologies for Knowledge Mobilization, Dissemination, and Use in Education," George Mason University, 1999. Stephen C. Ehrmann, "Transformative Assessment of Educational Uses of Technology: Early Glimpses," The TLT Group/Flashlight Program, 2001. Robert Fox and Sue Trinidad, "Assessment Driving the Learning, Technology Supporting the Process," Learning Technology Newsletter, Vol. 8, No. 3, July 2006, pp. 13–15. Peggy Maki, Assessing for Learning: Building a Sustainable Commitment Across the Institution (Sterling, Va.: Stylus Publishing, 2004; revised edition in 2007). Michael Orey, ed., Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching, and Technology, e-book, 2001. Martin Oliver, "An Introduction to the Evaluation of Learning Technology," Educational Technology & Society, Vol. 3, No. 4, 2000. Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, Understanding by Design, Expanded 2nd Edition (Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2005).
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