Assessment Matters: Lessons from My MAET Program at MSU

Kyra DeLoach

I believe that assessment is crucial to success. Throughout my educational journey, knowing how I was doing has helped me continue what I was doing or change it according to how I wanted to do in the course. The final result is what we typically focus on, but we don't always talk about what is helpful to get us there- assessment is what helps me get there. The assessment in my courses has been accessible and has helped me achieve the knowledge and marks that I want in my courses.

Last summer, I started my journey in graduate school specifically in the Master of the Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) program at Michigan State University. I was interested in technology and education as I have a background in graphic design, but work in higher education. I didn’t know what to expect in my courses, but I was presently surprised by the organization. 

From how things were graded, to having a feedback notebook, I felt like it was easy to get everything I needed in one place – it was convenient. I decided to take an Adult Education class as I mostly work with adult learners. This is where the challenge came.

The course was not in my program, so it was not formatted as intentionally as my MAET courses. I did not have a ShareTracker or a way to document my completion of tasks. I did not have a Feedback Notebook or a Google document which I received direct feedback. I did not have a survey to reflect on how I've been doing in the course for self-reflection. I did not have anything. I remained positive, but things were very different. I did not do well on my first few assignments in the course.

They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone… This is how I felt being in a course that was outside of my program that didn’t have an emphasis on assessment or feedback. When I wrote a paper, I had a rubric so that was helpful, but my feedback was just audio attached to my submission. I couldn’t go back and make changes or reflect on what I could’ve done differently – the feedback that I received came too late.

In The Role of Assessment in a Learning Culture, Shepard talks about ‘assessment that can be used as a part of instruction to support and enhance learning.’ (Shepard, 2000). This is how I feel about assessment. The ShareTracker, the Feedback Notebook, self-reflection surveys and even the way the courses in the MAET program are set up support my learning. 

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a piece to ‘suck up’ or earn brownie points. I know our professors know what they are doing, and if the ‘educational technology’ of the literal Educational Technology program was lacking – that would be a serious issue. I genuinely didn’t know that online learning could be so supplemental until joining this program.

Needless to say, I am relieved to be in MAET courses this semester, and during my final semester in the Fall so I can use the supplemental resources provided to me. I truly believe these modes of assessment have helped my self-assessment, my educational success and will continue to contribute to my success as a graduate student and beyond– using these methods with my students.

References

Shepard, L. A. (2000). The role of assessment in a learning culture. Educational Researcher, 29(7), 4-14.