The task is to assess student understanding through performance. How do you know if students learned and at what level of understanding? Using a differentiation assessment model will inform instruction. Wiggins and McTighe suggest that authentic assessments replicate real-life situations and allow for feedback and refinement (Wiggins & McTighe, 2008). One of the assessment challenges in the virtual environment is assessment differentiation between informal and summative assessments. Informal assessment may be accomplished through small assignments, journaling, reflecting, and a myriad of other options. In a class setting, instructors constantly informally assess student understanding through observation and questioning. In virtual classrooms, the instructor is not always able to see students' reactions to new content. Informal assessments are used to inform teaching. This type of assessment may be used in the virtual classroom in a variety of ways depending on your subject area. Because the entire course is centered on differentiation, the course will model differentiated assessment models. 1) Participants will demonstrate an understanding of differentiated instruction through assignment-based assessment. 2) Participants will demonstrate an understanding of differentiated assessment through an objective-alignment assignment. 3) Participants will reflect on differentiation techniques that are applicable to their respective subjects through journaling reflection. Participants will leave the course with an understanding, an action plan, and resources of differentiated instruction and assessment for the virtual classroom.
- Teacher: Cherissa Vitter