Objective 1 and Assessment Rationale

Objective:

Upon completion of the module, the student will combine texts, themes and events to design and produce a 6-10 slide PowerPoint summary on the orphan characters’ emotional journey seen throughout each story, meeting all requirements in the visual presentation rubric.

 

 Assessment Tool:
 

The assessment tool of choice is PowerPoint software for creating the presentation. Ideally the newest version - Microsoft PowerPoint 2013
 

 

Assessment Tool Rationale:


With a literature module that consists of 4 different novels and connected elements and themes, I have decided that students shall create a presentation that visually summarizes the connections between the three and explains how it relates to a deeper layer of emotional development within characters. I chose PowerPoint as the assessment tool due to a recent improvement of the latest versions of the software recommended for creating visual presentations with special effects and audio narration. Many undergraduate college students may not have had the opportunity to use PowerPoint in secondary school due to school budget cuts. I chose this as an assessment method to assure literature students have an opportunity to learn the software, as it is generally included in most Microsoft processing software bundles with new computers and beneficial to college students. Even with advanced features added to the latest PowerPoint 2013 version, it is a relatively user-friendly software that any student with skill using Microsoft Word can manipulate. The simple ‘audio record’ button on each slide makes it simple to add dictation to synthesize and rationalize content designed on the page. If for some reason a student from another country does not have the Microsoft Suite PowerPoint access, they will be able to email the instructor and suggest a similar presentation software for approval.

For the purpose of assessment, PowerPoint benefits both the instructor and the student. Using PowerPoint as a visual presentation allows the student to offer a display to the teacher on how they have connected the various themes and characters in the module's texts. The visual display of ideas in PowerPoint is similar to creating a concept map. As the student creatively designs the presentation and attempts to showcase their connections and ideas, things tend to come together that may offer a new way of looking at the content - like seeing the completed puzzle instead of the random pieces. The instructor will gain view of not only how well the student comprehends the literacy of the material, but also their level of skill with the assessment tool. According to Rhinehart (2015), "Good assessment tools for the classroom aid the educator in gaging the students' knowledge and understanding from several different perspectives. PowerPoint and Prezi provide classroom teachers with just this ability." Examples of skills assessed in a PowerPoint include spoken language skills, written language skills, design skills and application of subject (Rhinehart, 2015). Lastly, the assessment of student skill level will aid the instructor in how best to offer formative feedback in a way that is constructive to the learning goals of the course.


Reference:
 
Rhinehart, Linda. (06/21/2015). Assessing With PowerPoint and Prezi Presentations. Retrieved from

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/student-assessment-tools/59411-powerpoint-presentations-as-assessment-tool/

Visit my posting on rubrics to learn more about how this is assessed: