Summer 2008

June 16, 2008 - July 13, 2008

Course Info

The Assessment & Technology course in the College of Education and Social Services, University of Vermont investigates the widening rift between our schools' need for quality assessment & accountability and the growing possibilities of technology. The course is arranged in four content modules each focusing on a specific topic aligned with NETS standards.

The course is offered online using WebCT, the University’s course management system. Students are actively engaged in an online community and course activities include current readings about assessment & technology, online discussion, deep reflection, collaborative knowledge development, and an inquiry project that links to the students current work or interests. The majority of course activities can be accessed with a dial-up connection.

Module 1 Assessment Context

The first week of the course delves into the current state of assessment including assessment of learning and assessment for learning. We investigate the origins of our current high stakes environment and focus on the role of classroom assessment in improving learning. In this module we build common language to use as we move towards integration of assessment technologies in a learner centered environment.

Module 2 Integrating Assessment Technologies

In the second week, the core of the course, we investigate models for integrating specific technologies into classroom assessment. There is also a strong focus on the integration literature as we bridge the gap between integrating technology into instruction and integrating technology into assessment. In this module students actively research specific assessments and share them with the class online, creating a rich knowledge bank of ideas.

Module 3 Information & Knowledge Management

This module investigates how schools gather, maintain, use, and create knowledge from assessment data that can help teachers and administrators improve learning. The module covers information management basics including data warehousing and other knowledge development tools.

Module 4 Assessing Technology

This module investigates methods for assessing technology in schools from both an action research level and from a formal evaluation model. Students investigate and review current tools that have been developed for assessing technology.

 

Instructor Bio

Jon Bellum is the Assessment Coordinator for the College of Education and Social Services, University of Vermont where he oversees a comprehensive online assessment management system. In addition to supporting assessment in the College, he teaches courses in assessment and technology. His research interests are innovation implementation, creating communities of practice in schools, knowledge management, technology and assessment synergy, and assessment in higher education. He has also been a teacher and principal in an international school setting.

Dr. Bellum holds a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska in Educational Leadership with a minor in Management Information Systems.

Copyright © 2005-2008 :: Jon Bellum for the College of Education & Social Services, University of Vermont.