Assessment strategies used in the course

Based on this week’s reading, several assessment strategies are used in the course, mainly including peer review and authentic assessment. Peer review strategies are widely used in this course. For example, in our weekly assignments, students are required to comment on their classmates’ blog posts. This allows students to provide feedback to each other and help each other improve, while also enhancing critical thinking and analytical skills. This strategy promotes learning through mutual evaluation and feedback.

Authentic assessment is also an important strategy in the course. For example, our course requires students to create a teaching plan that simulates tasks in actual teaching scenarios. Students not only design teaching activities, but also write related resources and assessment tools. This authentic assessment strategy embodies the principle of testing learning effects through practical applications, helping students apply what they have learned to real-world problems.

Assessment strategies not used in the course

Summative assessments rarely appear in this course. The course focuses more on formative assessments, improving learning effects through continuous feedback and corrections, rather than a one-time summative assessment at the end of the course. Summative assessments usually involve grading students after the end of learning, which is less used in our course.

Relevance to Learning Theory

These assessment strategies are closely related to constructivist theory. Constructivist theory emphasizes that learners construct knowledge through real-life experience and interaction. Both peer review and authentic assessment strategies support this theory, promoting the construction and application of knowledge through an authentic, collaborative learning environment.

Comparison with other courses

Compared with other courses I took during college, this course is more hands-on and feedback-oriented. In previous courses, especially those traditional lecture-based courses, summative assessments such as final exams or major assignments are often the main focus, while this course provides more opportunities for interaction and continuous improvement through multi-stage peer review and authentic assessment. This approach not only improves the practical application of learning, but also enhances the sense of participation and practicality of learning.