Module 2
Objectives, Assessments, Resources, and their Alignment

 

2. Assignments & Resources (two-weeks-long module)

Week 1 (Saturday, 4/25 - Friday, 5/1)

Assignment 1

Review the learning objectives of a sample online course, "Introduction to Cultural Anthropology" and evaluate them using the resources below. 
More specifically, focus on the learning objectives for weeks 4 and 5 of the reviewed course (under the "Assignments" menu area of that course) and work on your own to:
i)  determine if and to what degree the stated objectives fulfill the
    requirements discussed in this module's resources, below, and
ii) come up with possible changes or additions to these objectives that would
    make them more effective.
 
Following your own preliminary review, work online, in groups of three to four participants, to combine your evaluations and suggestions into a common (for your group) set of reasons why the reviewed objectives are effective (or not) and, if applicable, include possible alternatives.
 

Resources

  • Module 2 Lecture Notes: Parts 1a & 1b
  • ANT103 Intro Cultural Anthropology; Weeks 4 & 5
    Blackboard course; Prince George's County Community College
    Visit the Blackboard system for the reviewed course, log in using the following information, and click on the course title.
       Username: fipse
       Password: fipse
     
  • "Work Groups" menu area
    Enter the "Work Groups" area, click on the "Group" that includes your name, enter the "Group Discussion Board," and select the "Module 2: Assignment 1" forum. Additional instructions are included in the forum's description.

Timeline

  • Start: Saturday, 4/25
  • End: Tuesday, 4/28, 11:59 p.m.
     

Assignment 2

Draft instructional goals, for an online course you plan to teach in the near future and include topics, essential questions, and learning objectives for at least one module. Use the standards, tips, and worksheet included in the resources below to complete this task.
 
Note that the worksheet includes areas for assignments and resources. You will be filling out these areas during Assignment 4 (next week). At that time, you will also be asked to enter the entire contents of your filled-out worksheet into your own DOTS Blackboard course. You will keep building this course throughout DOTS and will be fine-tuning it for presentation to all of us during Module 6.

 

Resources

Timeline

  • Start: Monday, 4/27
  • End: Friday, 5/1, 11:59 p.m.
     

Week 2 (Saturday, 5/2 - Friday, 5/8)

Assignment 3

Work online, in groups of three to four participants, to answer the following questions with regards to the sample module-assignment included at the bottom of the Module 2 Lecture Notes: Part 2b page.
 
i) As you've noticed, the course corresponding to the sample assignment does not explicitly communicate each module's objectives to the students. The justification claims for this decision were a) the students' main concern is "what do I need to do to get a good grade in this course?" and b) the learning objectives are easily inferable from the topics list and the assignment descriptions.
Can you infer and state this module's learning objectives based on the topics list and the assignment descriptions? Do the resources provide efficient and sufficient support to accomplish the learning objectives?
 
ii) An obvious objective of the module is "listing and outlining Herrmann's original contributions to film-scoring theory and practice". Why is item 1 of the reviewed assignment better fit to fully accomplish this objective than the more direct assignment statement, "list and outline Herrmann's original contributions to film-scoring theory and practice"? 

 

Resources

  • Module 2 Lecture Notes: Parts 2a & 2b
  • Assignment Example (Module 2 Lecture Notes: Part 2b; bottom of the page)
     
  • "Work Groups" menu area
    Enter the "Work Groups" area, click on the "Group" that includes your name, enter the "Group Discussion Board," and select the "Module 2: Assignment 3" forum. Additional instructions are included in the forum's description.

Timeline

  • Start: Saturday, 5/2
  • End: Tuesday, 5/5, 11:59 p.m.
     

Assignment 4

Continuing from Assignment 2, fill out the "Assignment" and "Resources" areas of the provided worksheet. Make sure you consult the standards and tips included in the resources, below, to complete this task, and work towards a tight alignment among, objectives, assignments, and resources.
 
Use the filled-out worksheet to enter the information in your personal DOTS Blackboard course. For the moment, use your own menu-design judgment to create an appropriate area to enter this information. The facilitators will be looking through your course and sending you their suggestions during a later module. To facilitate this back-and-forth, create a relevant discussion forum on your DOTS course.
You will keep building this course throughout DOTS and will be fine-tuning it for presentation to all of us during Module 6. 

 

Resources

  • Module 2 Lecture Notes: Parts 2a & 2b (same as in Assignment 3)
  • Objectives/Assessment/Resources Alignment Worksheet
    (same as and partially completed in Assignment 2)
  • Your personal (i.e. including your last name) DOTS Blackboard course

Timeline

  • Start: Monday, 5/4
  • End: Friday, 5/8, 12:30 a.m. (i.e. late Thursday night)
     

References and Additional Resources

Review these optional additional resources for more information on the module's topics
 

Continue to Wrap-up Meeting