- Level Foundation
- Duration 14 hours
- Course by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
-
Offered by
About
For several decades now, assessment has become an increasingly pressing educational priority. Teacher and school accountability systems have come to be based on analysis of large-scale, standardized summative assessments. As a consequence, assessment now dominates most conversations about reform, particularly as a measure of teacher and school accountability for learner performance. Behind the often heated and at times ideologically gridlocked debate is a genuine challenge to address gaps in achievement between different demographically identifiable groups of students. There is an urgent need to lift whole communities and cohorts of students out of cycles of underachievement. For better or for worse, testing and public reporting of achievement is seen to be one of the few tools capable of clearly informing public policy makers and communities alike about how their resources are being used to expand the life opportunities for their children. This course is an overview of current debates about testing, and analyses the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of approaches to assessment. The course also focuses on the use of assessment technologies in learning. It will explore recent advances in computer adaptive and diagnostic testing, the use of natural language processing technologies in assessments, and embedded formative assessments in digital and online curricula. Other topics include the use of data mining, learning analytics and artificial intelligence in learning management systems and educational technology platforms. Participants will be required to consider issues of data access, privacy and the challenges raised by ‘big data’ including data persistency and student profiling. -------------------------------- Recommended Background -------------------------------- This course is designed for people interested in the future of education and the "learning society," including people who may wish to join education as a profession, practicing teachers interested in exploring future directions for a vocation that is currently undergoing transformation, and community and workplace leaders who regard their mission to be in part "educative." -------------------------------- Related Resources -------------------------------- Online resources are available here: https://newlearningonline.com -------------------------------- Join our Online Communities! -------------------------------- CGScholar (Create an account and join the New Learning community) https://cgscholar.com/community/community_profiles/new-learning/community_updates Facebook https://www.facebook.com/newlearningonline Twitter https://twitter.com/neolearning -------------------------------- Take this Course for Credit at the University of Illinois -------------------------------- This course has the same content and anticipates the same level of contribution by students in the Assessment for Learning course offered to graduate certificate, masters, and doctoral level students in the Learning Design and Leadership Program in the College of Education at the University of Illinois. Of course, in the nature of MOOCs many people will just want to view the videos and casually join some of the discussions. Some people say that these limited kinds of participation offer evidence that MOOCs suffer from low retention rates. Far from it – we say that any level of engagement is good engagement. On the other hand, if you would like to take this course for credit at the University of Illinois, you will find more information about our program here: https://ldlprogram.web.illinois.edu/overview/ And you can apply here: https://education.illinois.edu/epol/programs-degrees/ldl -------------------------------- The Learning Design and Leadership Series of MOOCs -------------------------------- This course is one of a series of eight MOOCs created by Bill Cope and Mary Kalantzis for the Learning Design and Leadership program at the University of Illinois. If you find this MOOC helpful, please join us in others! e-Learning Ecologies: Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Learning for the Digital Age https://www.coursera.org/learn/elearning New Learning: Principles and Patterns of Pedagogy https://www.coursera.org/learn/newlearning Assessment for Learning https://www.coursera.org/learn/assessmentforlearning Learning, Knowledge, and Human Development https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-knowledge-human-development Ubiquitous Learning and Instructional Technologies https://www.coursera.org/learn/ubiquitouslearning Negotiating Learner Differences: Towards Productive Diversity in Learning https://www.coursera.org/learn/learnerdifferences Literacy Teaching and Learning: Aims, Approaches and Pedagogies https://www.coursera.org/learn/literacy-teaching-learning Multimodal Literacies: Communication and Learning in the Era of Digital Media https://www.coursera.org/learn/multimodal-literaciesModules
About the Course
1
Assignment
- Orientation Quiz
1
Videos
- Welcome to Assessment for Learning Course
5
Readings
- Syllabus
- Task Overview: How to Pass This Course
- About the Discussion Forums
- Take This Course as a Stepping Stone for a University of Illinois Certificate, Masters, or Doctorate - Fully Online!
- Course Readings
About your Classmates
1
Discussions
- Getting to Know Your Classmates
2
Readings
- Updating Your Profile
- Social Media
Intelligence Tests: The First Modern Assessments
1
Peer Review
- Essential Peer Reviewed Update #1
1
Discussions
- Discussion Forum: Essential Update #1
3
Videos
- Context of Assessment, Evaluation and Research
- Measuring What? The First Intelligence Tests
- Testing for Inequalities
1
Readings
- Additional Resources
Select and Supply Response Assessments
1
Peer Review
- Optional Peer Reviewed Update #2
1
Discussions
- Discussion Forum: Optional Update #2
3
Videos
- Select Response and Standardized Assessments
- Supply Response Assessments
- Interpreting Test Results
1
Readings
- Additional Resources
Standards-Based and Alternative Practices of Assessment
1
Peer Review
- Essential Peer Reviewed Update #3
1
Discussions
- Discussion Forum: Essential Update #3
2
Videos
- Changing the Objectives of Assessment in Standards-Based Education
- Alternative Concepts and Practices of Assessment
1
Readings
- Additional Resources
New Opportunities for Assessment in the Digital Age
1
Peer Review
- Optional Peer Reviewed Update #4
1
Discussions
- Discussion Forum: Optional Update #4
3
Videos
- New Opportunities for Assessment in the Digital Age
- Big Data Assessments
- Designing Assessments for the Future
1
Readings
- Additional Resources
Learning Analytics: A Case Study of CGScholar
1
Peer Review
- Essential Peer Reviewed Update #5
1
Discussions
- Discussion Forum: Essential Update #5
3
Videos
- Prospects for Learning Analytics: A Case Study
- Visualizing Progress
- The Test Is Dead. Long Live Assessment!
Educational Data Mining – Luc Paquette
1
Peer Review
- Optional Peer Reviewed Update #6
1
Discussions
- Discussion Forum: Optional Update #6
4
Videos
- Using Data to Analyze Learning
- Predictive Modeling
- Knowledge Inference
- Issues of Ethics and Equity
Educational Evaluation – Jennifer Greene
1
Peer Review
- Essential Peer Reviewed Update #7
1
Discussions
- Discussion Forum: Essential Update #7
6
Videos
- What Is Evaluation?
- Approaches to Evaluation
- Program Evaluation
- Values in Evaluation
- The Practice of Evaluation: Challenges and Tensions
- Evaluating the Evaluators: Establishing Standards of Practice
Auto Summary
"Assessment for Learning" is a comprehensive course designed to delve into the evolving landscape of educational assessment. This course is perfect for those invested in the future of education, including aspiring educators, practicing teachers, and community leaders with an educational mission. Led by Bill Cope and Mary Kalantzis, this course offers a deep dive into contemporary debates and methodologies surrounding assessment. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of various assessment approaches and highlights the role of technology in modern learning environments. Learners will explore advancements in computer adaptive testing, natural language processing, and embedded formative assessments, as well as the implications of data mining, learning analytics, and artificial intelligence in education. With a duration of approximately 840 hours, this foundation-level course provides flexible subscription options, including Starter and Professional tiers, catering to different levels of engagement. Participants will also address critical issues like data access, privacy, and the ethical challenges posed by big data in education. For those interested in obtaining academic credit, the course aligns with the graduate-level offerings of the Learning Design and Leadership Program at the University of Illinois. Information on credit options and applications can be found on the university’s website. In addition to the "Assessment for Learning" course, learners can continue their educational journey with other MOOCs in the Learning Design and Leadership series, covering a range of topics from e-learning ecologies to multimodal literacies. Join a vibrant community of educators and learners through platforms like CGScholar, Facebook, and Twitter to enhance your learning experience and stay connected with peers. Discover more and enroll today to shape the future of educational assessment and contribute to a learning society.

Dr William Cope

Dr Mary Kalantzis