1. Scaffolding Online Math HW for Effective Assessment
Kristin Lassonde - Contra Costa College
MathFest - Saturday July 29, 2017

2. Kristin Lassonde
Spring 2017 Community College Undergraduate Research Class Image Credit: Tim Gleason

3. What is the problem? Students score 100% on Online HW
Then score much lower on in-class assessments
Therefore, Online HW is not effective
Instructors can’t gauge student understanding
Students don’t know what they don’t know

4. Why does this happen? (Part 1)
Resources are integrated into Online HW
Hints, Video Tutorials, Similar Problems, Examples from the Textbook, Discussion Boards, Online Tutors available 24/7, Convenient Links to the problem to the instructor, etc.

5. Why does this happen? (Part 2)
Online HW Settings Optimized for Learning (and not for assessing)
Frequently problems have unlimited attempts
Frequently Online HW assignments are not timed

6. Why does this happen? (Part 3)
Students are incentivized to score 100%
Students want to maximize their HW score, the one part of the grade they feel they have ‘control’ over
Some problems are static or have limited variations
Students keep submitting until they score the points, regardless of understanding

7. The Wrong Solutions Don’t use Online HW since it is ineffective!
Don’t include Online HW as part of the grade!
Only allow 1 attempt on Online HW problems!
Turn off the Online HW resources!
Just make Online HW optional!

8. Just assign book HW! That’s how I learned math and I turned out just fine!

9. NO!!! Online HW has numerous benefits! Recommendation:
Don’t throw out the good with the bad!
Let’s solve the actual problem
Recommendation:
Scaffold Online HW for Effective Assessment

10. Scaffolding Examples Online HW Assignment Settings
Include Proctored Assessment
Comprehensive Assignments
Adaptive or Choice of Assignments
Allow for Remediation
Frequent Deadlines

11. 1. Online HW Assignment Settings
Integrate other Required Assignments
“Quizzes”, “Tests”, “Practice Exams”
Implement Prerequisite Assignments
Utilize pooling features
Helps in creating varied assignments

12. Online “Quizzes” Remove Resources Timed Assignment Mixture of Content
Entire Assignment Submitted at Once
Minimum Score to Go On
Coordinate with Campus Tutors
Still Offer Multiple Attempts

13. Online “Tests” Similar to Online “Quizzes”, except:
Longer than “Quizzes”
One Attempt or Limited Attempts
Creates anxiety similar to in-class assessments
Offline opportunities to remediate

14. Definition: Exam
I use the term Exam to indicate a comprehensive and proctored assessment. I use this term to distinguish “Exams” from “Tests” or “Quizzes” from their online HW, which might be non-comprehensive or offered in a non-proctored environment.

15. Online “Practice Exams”
Offer a “Practice” exam
For F2F classes, I typically require this in class
For online classes, this may be non-proctored
Grade is a completion-based HW grade
Only One attempt on “Practice Exam”
Required remediation prior to graded Exam

16. 2. Include Proctored Assessment
With all this scaffolded online HW, PROCTORED ASSESSMENT is still an essential component
For F2F, proctored assessment may be in class
For online classes, require proctored assessment
Include 1-2 scheduled exams in course description
Utilize local testing centers or other proctoring services such as: ProctorU or the public library

17. 3. Comprehensive Assignments
Many Online HW Assignments are NOT comprehensive!
Students score 100% on Ch 3 Section 4 HW but then never practice 3.4 again until the Exam
Include COMPREHENSIVE Assignments
Adaptive or choice of assignments empowers students of varying skill levels

18. 4. Allow for Remediation (Part 1)
Anxiety!!!
Math Anxiety!
Test Anxiety!
Allow opportunities for remediate and educate students about these opportunities to alleviate students’ anxiety

19. 4. Allow for Remediation (Part 2)
ALWAYS allow opportunities to remediate
High anxiety students will be more tempted to cheat if they only get one chance
Opportunities to remediate helps keep students motivated to learn and persist
For me, the only thing final is the final exam
Mastery-based grading-esque

20. 5. Frequent Deadlines Keeps students working regularly
Encourage students to work ahead
Easy to spot students who are falling behind

21. Kristin Lassonde Prof.Lassonde@gmail.com (510) 775–0286
Thanks!
Kristin Lassonde (510) 775–0286