SECTION 2
Rubrics

SECTION 3
Other Assessment Tools
part 2
part 3
part 4
part 5

SECTION 4
Class-developed tools
Quality Indicators for Web Sites
Quality Indicators for Online  Projects
part 3
part 4

Quality Indicators

What are Quality Indicators? Quality indicators are assessment tools that enable
students, parents, and teachers to understand important components to students' work.   With quality indicators, all involved parties understand the expectations and requirements.  For
example, when a student is going to do a presentation, s/he would refer to the quality
indicators (often developed by the class with teacher input) for elements that make an
effective presentation.  Such components as voice level, pace, tone, body language, and
the ability to communicate information all would be included as indicators of a quality
presentation.  Students and their teachers (and sometimes parents) both assess the student's
work by rating the work against the criteria.  Quality indicators may be a checklist, a
continuum line (for example, how often did the child use effective body language during the presentation:  RARELY, SOMETIMES, FREQUENTLY, or EXTENSIVELY?).

Rubrics

What are Rubrics? Rubrics are another assessment tool intended to pinpoint
student performance.  Rubrics, like quality indicators, list expected criteria.   Unlike quality indicators, however, rubrics usually specify more detailed information regarding the expected outcomes.

Samples to Come...

Quality Indicators for Web Sites
During the GED 556 course, participants brainstormed aspects of web sites
that made them appealing.  Below are their agreed upon criteria for quality sites:

_____  User friendly
_____  Provides meaningful information
_____  Consise and organized information
_____  Includes a directory/table of contents
_____  Age/content appropriate
_____  Controlled graphics (graphics don't take too long to load)
_____  Interactive capabilities
_____  Provides links to similar sites
_____  Includes a date of last revision
_____  Identifies the source(s) credentials
_____  Provides a link to the author of the page
_____  Limits advertising
_____  Information is easy to access and locate
_____  Site is easy to navigate

Quality Indicators for Internet (Collaborative) Projects
In addition to web SITES, we also discussed telecollaborative projects and the criteria
that make them valued learning tools.  Our criteria included:

Participation:
_____  The project is age appropriate, appealing to our intended audience
_____  It encourages student ownership & interest
_____  The topic is relevant and meaningful to students
_____  The site identifies a contact person (project leader)
_____  Online help (project or technical) is available
_____  Adequate preparation time is allocated for planning and implementation

Curriculum:
_____  Aligned with standards
_____  Clear goals/objectives
_____  Easy access of data
_____  Includes a clear and valid assessment of goals/objectives

Function:
_____  Technology enhances the content (is necessary)
_____  Information is appropriately updated and timely
_____  Well-defined timeline
_____  History of the project is available
_____  Time frames are appropriate (not too long or too short, defined beginning
            and ending)