Certificare Assignment #2


Planning an Activity that Meets a Learning Objective


Objective:

The participant will create a learning activity and assessment that meet a specific learning objective.


General Description:

Learner-centered teaching focuses on the student. Well-constructed learning objectives lead the way. This activity will give you some practice creating an activity that meets a learning objective. In addition, you will describe and/or design the method for assessing the extent to which students met the objective.

Your learning activity could be a group project, in-class assignment, lab project, take-home/field assignment, or other type of activity. Any course-related activity that directly engages students is fair game. You may use an activity you’ve already tried out in a class you teach, one that you’ve modified, or a new one that you’ve developed for this assignment.


To be handed in:

  1. a description of the activity or assignment
    Include the learning objective(s) for the activity and how the objective will be addressed by the activity. You may use whatever description you give your students, such as an assignment sheet, if you like.
  2. a one-page explanation of the activity
    Here are some questions you should consider:
    • What is the context for this activity? Where does it occur in your course, and how does it relate to course goals?
    • Why are you asking students to do this? Which of your fundamental beliefs about teaching are at work in this activity? What kinds of thinking does it invoke (where does it fall on Bloom’s taxonomy)?
    • Is the activity motivating to students? Is it clear why it is important? Does it give them control or choice? Does it arouse their curiosity? Does it relate to their own lives in some way?
    • What preparation, materials/tools, and guidance do students need to complete this activity successfully?
    • How do you determine whether or not the activity has been successful? If the activity is graded, provide the grading scale/rubric. If it is ungraded, provide an example of how the objective will be assessed (a multiple choice question or two, an essay question, a paper?).

Assessment:

You will share this assignment with your colleagues in small groups. Your colleagues will assess the project using the following rubric and provide feedback to you. You will turn in the certificate assignment for credit and let us know if you would like feedback from us.


Rubric
  1 Point 2 Points 3 Points
Learning Objective No learning objective Learning objective is present but vague and difficult to measure Learning objective is clear and measureable
Activity reflects learning objective No link between the activity and the objective exists. The activity partially reflects the learning objective, but may be at a different level. The activity clearly reflects the learning objective, including the appropriate level.
Description Very little description of the activity or the description is vague and/or unclear. Activity is described, but some aspects are unclear or missing. It might be difficult for students to know what they will be doing. Activity is clearly described. Students know exactly what they will be doing.
Motivation The activity seems to be "busy work." Students can’t see how it is relevant to course material. They don’t have any choice or control. It isn’t interesting or relevant to their own lives in any way. The activity makes some sense within the context of the course, but it is only partly clear why students are doing it. Students may not have any choice over the activity. It may be only mildly interesting and may not directly relate to their own lives. The activity makes sense within the context of the course. It is clear to the students why they are doing it. The activity is motivating to students by arousing their curiosity, allowing them some control or choice and/or being relevant to their personal lives.
Assessment/Evaluation The evaluation does not match the learning objective. The evaluation partially matches the learning objective but may be at the wrong level. The evaluation of the activity is clearly matched to the learning objective and at the appropriate level.