Photo+Album+Q&A

Q1: "From my understanding, my group is to collaborate and come up with an assessment. Is this a generic assessment that can be applied to any subject? Is this like the rubric that we attach to the end of our Application paper?"

A1: The group collaborates to design a rubric to assess the Assessment Photo Album. It is to be generic in that it can apply to any Assessment Photo Album. As a result of your inquiry, an example of such a rubric has been emailed to all. (Reminder: as indicated previously, each person designs his or her own Assessment Photo Album; this is not a group grade. The group, however, may discuss any member's ideas for their Assessment Photo Albums, and offer advice/corrections. So the group can be very helpful in this respect.)

Q2: "Then, how do we apply this to our Assessment Photo Album."

A2: Your contribution to the group (i.e. your idea of a rubric to measure the effectiveness of the rubric for the Assessment Photo Album) are included as a slide or slides in your Assessment Photo Album. You simply include it as a means for you to assess your own photo album. Please note how this was handled in the Assessment Photo Album example which was emailed to all. Another has been emailed to you in case you did not get the first one. Some groups divide the rubric up into categories and each member takes a category or two. Other groups have each member do an entire rubric and the group picks and chooses to create the best overall rubric. And there may be other approaches of which I am unaware.

Q3: "What is required in the Photo Album?"

A3: The best answer for this is to read the assignment directions and/or look at the emailed example of an Assessment Photo Album. I strongly recommend that you read the “Course Project Overview.” This is where we are headed and the course is designed backwards to get us there! By Week 4, your group is to have selected a site (I recommended a good one, but there are others.), tried it out, and be ready to share documents and network using this tool.

Your group also plays a role as follows: Week Six Assessment Photo Album directions: "This week you will send your Assessment Photo Album to your group members for feedback. Once you have received their feedback, you will revise your project based on colleagues’ input and submit your final Assessment Photo Album to your Instructor for evaluation. Complete the following steps: • Send your Assessment Photo Album presentation (as a link or attached document) to your group members. Your group members will evaluate your project using the rubric you co-created and provide feedback. • Revise your Assessment Photo Album based on feedback from your colleagues. • Reflect on your experience in creating this product, including your integration of technology (presentation and collaboration tools), the co-creation of a rubric, and the peer review process."

Q4: "Is this supposed to be like a Power Point?"

A4: Yes. This can in fact be a power point.

Q5: "Is it required that I speak my instructions on the Photo Album?"

A5: Audio is not required.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The groups should be helpful. Five groups have leaders thus far and are starting to roll. The rest will be following. In fact, you should gain much information through your interaction with

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> Q: It is Tuesday and I still do not understand what we are to do for our group discussion posting. I would appreciate some direction and an example.

Thank you! A: Week Four Discussion:

The example rubric sent out deals with the following aspect of the Discussion directions:  Identify three or more essential qualities or traits to be demonstrated through the creation of the Assessment Photo Album. As suggested in the Identifying Important Performance Qualities book excerpt resource (p. 184), you may wish to begin your work by individually listing the important qualities or traits for the Assessment Photo Album. Then, as a group, agree to four to six of the most important traits.  Include a rating scale for each quality or trait with a 1- to 3-point range.

 Write descriptors of performance and indicators for the lowest to highest level for each quality or trait. The distinctions between each level should be clear and appropriate.  Write the descriptors using parallel construction (i.e., the language is   consistent from one level to the next).

Your group must first collaborate to design an Assessment Photo Album rubric in order for each group member to make a posting which deals with the following Discussion directions: Post a copy of your groups rubric that includes the items listed above.

(Note: Each candidate should post individually.) Include a reflection on your groups work as follows:  What was the most difficult part of creating this rubric?

 What insights did you gain through the process and how will this guide your completion of the Assessment Photo Album Course Project?  What implications does this activity have for your teaching practices?

 What online collaboration tool did you use, and what were its benefits and challenges?