Assessmentinelearning Atechtoolbox

Assessment in eLearning - A Tech Toolbox
By Dana David Gravot and Arin Ceglia
Introduction
In order to create truly authentic, valid, and reliable online assessments for students, an instructor must have a strong awareness of a suite of technology-based online tools.
Further, assessment tools that have collaboration and social workflows at the heart of their offering are an important subsection of a broader assessment tools space. In the
following toolbox, please find an overview of the basics, features, benefits, and applications of both Google Apps for Education and Voicethread. Though the tools featured below
are quite different from one another, they do address a number of similar needs including being cost-effective, student-centric, and widely accessible. Please note, the tech
toolbox below is intentionally set up as a matrix so that finding pertinent information is quick and easy. Enjoy!
Tool
Google Apps for Education
Voicethread
Introduction
Google Apps for Education (GAFE) is a robust, yet free, suite of online
and mobile-friendly tools (also known as apps) that support collaboration
among learners and instructors. The tools are then hosted by Google for
Voicethread is a Web 2.0 application, allowing for collaborative sharing of

presentations, files, documents, photos, video in informal and formal
exchanges/interactions. Comments can be made in five different ways: phone, mic,
an institution or school, which means the content is safe, secure, and has
guaranteed uptime. Instructors love GAFE because of the increased
collaboration, especially the ability to share and edit files in real time.
Students love GAFE because it protects students from the greater
unfiltered internet, but also allows them social and collaborative
experiences among a community of peers. Best of all, GAFE is ad-free
and is completely extensible with google add-ons, which are constantly
being developed.
These communication and collaboration apps include Gmail, Calendar,
Drive, Docs and Sites, and a GAFE account unlocks access to dozens of
other collaborative tools supported by Google. (edtechteacher, 2015)
Features
and Benefits
GAFE provides a number of key features and benefits to its end user. The
table below depicts key features and benefits, organized by need:
Need
Classroom
management
Google App
Benefits
Cla
ssroom
Productivity
Gm
Doc
ail
s
Near real-time
feedback
Social and
collaborative
Mobile friendly
Assignments are
provided, graded, and
stored
Collaborative
Cloudbased
Multi-device
compatible
webcam, text or media file upload. The major attribute of VoiceThread is the ability
to capture multiple commentaries to an image or document, resulting in an artifact
for later reference. An interesting feature of this cloud based application is doodling:
a temporary drawing appears superimposed on the main image, where the
commenter has circled or underlined a particular feature of the image. The doodle,
as it is called, fades out as the student's comment finishes. (Confluence wiki,
EdTechTeacher, Edutopia, 2010)
In addition to these capabilities, Voicethread blends into a learner-centered
paradigm argued for by Buhagiar (2007) in his article on alternative assessment
paradigm. Voicethread offers educators the ability to capitalize on student
strengths and preferred modalities. Students may receive instruction through
auditory (teacher or student post) or visual (picture, graph, etc) means. Equally,
students output could be a verbal or written communication. This tool enhances the
educational experience for those passive learners who may be too shy to contribute
in a classroom setting. These options allow the teacher to differentiate learning to
meet students needs and encourage collaborative creation of knowledge, along
with responsible digital citizens (Brunvand and Byrd, p. 33, 36).
Software downloads are not required in order to operate; The
presentation is saved and run directly from the website.
Supports Multimedia; Embedding video has been simplified
Supports online editing
Readily available collaboration and commentary
Can be used as a reference at a later date
VoiceThread allows those with hearing impairments to collaborate
through webcam commenting and sign language.
She
Slid
Silte
ets
es
s
Cal
endar
Storage
Vaul
Driv
Version control
History
e
Social
Han Support for multiple interactions:

gouts
student-student
Goo
collaboration
gle plus
student-instructor
tutoring and/or
remediation
Additionally, there are a few general benefits from GAFE:

There is no longer an issue with lost or forgotten homework
its always available anywhere, anytime, from any device.
Version control and document history help in a number of
instances:
Instructors can see work that lead up to a
completed draft, when, and by whom
Students can see their history and revert to
a former version if needed
Increased collaboration:
Using the insert comment function,
contributors can @mention collaborators and GAFE will
send an email to their inbox for review later, thus
supporting synchronous and asynchronous assignments.
Weaknesses
and
challenges
Application
in an online
course.
Persistence of documents
Lost digital footprint
Connectivity required - If anything happens to your
connection to the internet, you lose access to important business
software. (Milton)
Google can be used in any kind of assessment that requires collaboration
and/or productivity, peer-to-peer interactions, and much more.
Asynchronous.
Free access is limited.
Uploading files from other applications easier with pay version.
Limits in Universal Design
Voicethread is only supported on iOS mobile devices, not Android,
thus rendering it only mobile friendly for 14% of the mobile market.
Voicethread can be used in presentations, learning languages, storytelling, digital
communication, distance learning, peer discussions, cross-continent discussions,
and many more.
Create a Voicethread Welcome to class introduction which serves
the dual purpose of creating a learning community--getting students to
introduce themselvesand as a tutorial.
It is smart to start slow and small, until you and students gain ease
with the program. (Voicethread Extends Classroom, 2010, Best Practices
with Voicethread PENN State)
Provide clear, specific guidelines such as how many comments,
frequency, and either audio or text.
Checking in on comments is important allowing you to redirect
discussion and to give feedback. If your time for grading is limited, have
students comment via text.
Keep the Voicethread private helps students become comfortable
sharing their stories, opinions, and thoughts (7 Things You Should Know
About VoiceThread, Touro College).
You can tie in reflections on the assignment to a class blog!
These are some useful tips on preparing and commenting on a Voicethread:
Digitally Speaking Wiki
Example of
the tool in an
online
classroom.
Google conveniently provides a wide variety of use cases which can be

viewed, sorted, and filtered in a number of ways here. Though here is an
example more specifically related to GAFEs use in the online classroom
and further, specific to my chosen exemplar course (online Masters of
Business with a concentration in global studies). For online MBA students,
currently focusing on their marketing final, which is an end-to-end market
research project:
Once grouped together into teams of 2-3 students, define the research
methodology, conduct your research, and deliver/present the findings in a
research debrief all using GAFE.
First, be sure to use docs to collaborate on the companies youre
researching and define the goals/objectives of the research. From there,
use google forms to create and distribute your survey to participants.
Finally, analyze the data in sheets and create a comprehensive research
debrief presentation in slides. Of course, throughout the project, be sure
youre storing all related project materials and documents in drive, and
stay connected with one another as needed using hangouts for texting,
audio, or video calls. and gmail for email. Once youre completely finished
with the project, submit their final draft to the instructor using the link in
our classroom.
After having students review a Voicethread guide (a possible Student Guide),I

would assign the following recorded commentary:
Upload a picture of your family and describe them: who they are,
what they are like (both personality and what they look like). Include your
pets if you like! You may describe your real family or a fictional one using
celebrities. Or you could use the picture provided. La Famille
Using the target language, students would have to incorporate
physical and descriptive vocabulary used into a description of their family.
Learning
objective(s)
related to
the use of
the tool.
Students will demonstrate the ability to collect market

feedback by conducting a market research survey using google
docs and forms with at least 85 of an available 100 points of the
rubric criterion.
Students will analyze primary research results using google
sheets and add-ons as needed, including charts and graphs with
95% mathematical accuracy according to the rubric.
Students will summarize and communicate market
research findings to a group of stakeholders in a virtual
Students will record a description of their family using physical and descriptive
presentation according to the rubric criterion.
adjectives with 90 percent accuracy according to the rubric provided.
Examples and Resources:
Langugage Learners
Voicethread for Foreign Language Classes U of Colorado
Uses for Foreign Language Class [Pertinent for other content areas]
VoiceThread4EducationWiki [Examples from K through College, EdTech and
Special Ed]
Works Cited
"What Is GAFE?" Edtechteacher. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2015.

<http://edtechteacher.org/gafe/>.
Kazmeyer, Milton. "The Pros & Cons of Google Apps." Small Business.
Houston Chronicle, n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2015.
<http://smallbusiness.chron.com/pros-cons-google-apps-27349.html>.
Best Practices with Voicethread PENN State.

Buhagiar, Micheal. Classroom Assessment within the Alternative Assessment
Paradigm. The Curriculum Journal March 7, 2007
Brunvand, Stein and Byrd, Sara.. Using Voicethread to Promote Learning
Engagement and Success for All Students. In Teaching Exceptional Children,
Mar/Apr 2011.
Digiatally Speaking Wiki
New Jersy Education Association Voicethread
Voicethread Resources on Voicethread Website.
Voicethread Confluence, Purdue University Wiki. Dec. 8, 2010.
VoiceThread In All Things Science Caf Wiki. 2009.
VoiceThread. EdTechTeacher
Voicethread Extends the Classroom with Multi Media Albums. Laila Weir In
Edutopia, April 8, 2010.
Voicethread: Enhanced Community, Increased Social Presence and Improved
Visual Learning Michelle Pacansky-Brock, in Online Learning Consortium
7 Things You Should Know About VoiceThread, Touro College. Online Education for
Higher Education Blog. Nov. 12, 2013.
What is Voicethread Covergence Solutions. YouTube. August 3, 2011.

Voicethread for Teaching and Online Learning Voicethread.com
IDC Research
REFERENCES FOR STUDENT
Voicethread the Basics Youtube, TeacherTechVids. May 11, 2011.
VoiceThread Student Guide
UNC Frequently asked questions about VoiceThread
Et Voila! These tools offer an educator the ability to extend learning beyond the traditional classroom. GAFE offers cloud capabilities for project based assessment and
Voicethread allows for various asynchronous commentary projects. We proposed two tools that allow for collaborative projects at the heart of the alternative assessment
paradigm outlined by Buhagiar. Both GAFE and Voicethread mesh with the metaphor of S-a-a-S (School-as-a-service;Vander Ark), where learner-centered instruction offers both
students and teachers flexibility without compromising the educational experience.

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Assessment in eLearning - A Tech Toolbox

By Dana David Gravot and Arin Ceglia

Google Apps for Education

Voicethread is a Web 2.0 application, allowing for collaborative sharing of

Han Support for multiple interactions:

Additionally, there are a few general benefits from GAFE:

Google conveniently provides a wide variety of use cases which can be

After having students review a Voicethread guide (a possible Student Guide),I

Students will demonstrate the ability to collect market

"What Is GAFE?" Edtechteacher. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2015.

Best Practices with Voicethread PENN State.

What is Voicethread Covergence Solutions. YouTube. August 3, 2011.

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