Blended Learning Conference 2008

Here are my notes from day 2 of the conference, beginning with the 2nd Keynote from David Nicol
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He mentioned Gibbs and Simpson 2004 and guidelines on effective formative assessment:

*capture enough study time in and out of class
*are spread out evenly across timeline of study
*lead to productive activity (deep vs surface)
*communicate clear and high expectations
etc (I'll put link in to shared presentations at some point)

ie steers learning

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nicol and macfarlane-dick (2006) formative assessment and self-regulated
learning: a model and seven principles

Consider self and peers as much as teachers as sources of assessment and feedback
Self-assessment is under exploited
See feedback as part of a cycle within cycle - not as a simple message.
Scaffolding self-regulation: 7 principles of good feedback

1. helps clarify what good performance is (goals, criteria, expected standards);
2. facilitates the development of self-assessment (reflection) in learning;
3. delivers high quality information to students about their learning;
4. encourages teacher and peer dialogue around learning;
5. encourages positive motivational beliefs and self-esteem;
6. provides opportunities to close the gap between current and desired performance;
7. provides information to teachers that can be used to help shape teaching.

Now extended to 12 principles
including:
ensure that summative assessment supports formative learning processes
involve students in decision making about asessment policy and practice
support dev of learning groups
support dev of learning environment

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Broadcast feedback - teacher acknowledges contributions
A repeatable framework helps students to know what is expected of them

7 principles in case study tapped into intrinsic motivation
Self-assessment is important - feedback on their self-assessment (MCQs can help) - but s a is setting goals and giving them a way to self-evaluate against goals.
Students can create MCQs and feedback for wrong and right answers (and then teacher has the exam questions pre-made!!!)

Why Principles? he asked...
(inc)
easy to understand but not simplistic
set high level aspirations
transferability
research support
helps define technology requirements
Principles can support incremental change

Don't need to apply all of them all the time