PEER GRADED ASSIGNMENT

Title: Application of Learning Launch to experiment Online Tests and

Assessments in COVID19 environment .

Submitted by: Laura Godoy

Reflection-Learning Launch

Challenge:

I am a professor working in a technical higher education institution in India. The prevailing  mode of learning and assessment was predominantly within in the precincts of classroom and  laboratories in a physical environment. However, the students and faculty members are  acquainted with online mode for quiz assessment only. But the online quiz assessment was  taking place in the computer centre’s in the institution as per the predefined schedule. The course  instructors were assigned for physical monitoring of the quiz conduction. With the sudden  emergence of COVID 19 pandemic, the Government’s initiative for series of lockdowns has  necessitated the closure of technical higher education institutions in the State. To engage the  students in online mode and to make sure that they don’t lose connect with the academics, the  institution has decided to offer online sessions and online assessments. This provided an  opportunity and challenge to both the stakeholders. The normal classroom sessions were held  using different open source platforms as per the choice and compatibility levels of instructors  and students. The students were also guided in doing their assignments and posting them to the  instructors successfully for assessment. However, the challenge aroused for both the stake  holders when the institution decided to conduct open ended quiz and descriptive exams by  allowing the students to sit in the comforts of home environment. It was also decided to leverage  a standardized common platform across the institution for the conduction of the same.

Selection:

The nuances of above challenge can be understood by applying an experimentation tool among  the stakeholders on prototype or mock basis. Based on the review of course content on Design  Thinking, it was decided to use the tool of Learning Launch as it is felt appropriate to conduct  experimentation among the stake holders and unearth the experiences. These experiences can in  turn serve as basis for refining the solution idea to the problem or completely think of a new idea  solution. The reason behind selecting Learning Launch is that it helps in figuring out what  customers/ stake holders/ students and faculty members need. It helps in unfolding the reality  faster and cheaper. Also lot of data can be generated in terms of experiences from both the  students and faculty members. By generating huge amounts of qualitative and quantitative data,

the tool can help us in protecting from confirming bias, which is common feature amongst the  individuals. Finally the tool helps in Testing and learning philosophy, which is the core of  customer centric solution.

Application:

The tool was applied to understand the experiences of the user groups. The faculty members  were given virtual training in designing the question bank for open ended assessments. Online  videos and materials were provided to the instructors to enable they understand the essence of  open ended examination. Sample question papers were set by faculty members and online  interactive sessions were held with the instructors experienced in open ended assessments. This  enabled the instructors to experience the setting of questions for open ended tests.

The second level included interaction between the instructors and students involving the  instructors giving guidance to students. The guidance was pertaining to the interpretation and  understanding the process of open ended examination. Sample questions were given as  assignments to the students and this was followed by interactive sessions to clear any  apprehensions about the proposed format .In certain cases, the queries were recorded and  provided with clarification through various online interactive plat forms.

The third level involved virtual hands on training for the faculty members to make them  acquainted with the creation and uploading of question papers on to the platform along with  setting up of certain security controls. This phase invoked lot of queries from the faculty  members in using the tool.

The fourth level comprised of preparing standard operating procedures for both the faculty and  students highlighting the do’s and dont’s during the examination.

The fifth level involved administration of mock online test to the students. This test ensured  confidence among the students and instructors. About 10% of the students sought clarifications.

The sixth stage was focused on clearing the doubts posed by the students based on the mock  experience.

Insight:

Application of Learning Launch tool enabled to test the assumptions. This opened about various  issues such as obtaining the correct key by the student, network issues, scanning of the answer  sheets and uploading issues.

Some students do not possess the prescribed material as they left the material in dorms while  leaving to their native places. This necessitates them to access online material. However, the tool  does not allow the students to browse the information online as the minimization of screen will  lock the exam screen. This requires obtaining separate key from the administrator after

authentication from the students, mentor. This eats away students’ allotted time. This in a way  defeats the objective of open book examination and assessment.

Approach:

Based on the insights from the application of the tool, the team came up with few ideas to  supplement the designed process and make it more effective. The ideas include suggesting the  students to open the examination in one desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone and supplement it  with one more device of their choice mentioned earlier. The supplementary device can be used to  browse and access the material on real time basis during the examination.

A revised standard operating procedure is drafted and circulated to the students in accordance  with the insights gained from conducting these experiments using the Learning Launch tool.


PEER GRADED ASSIGNMENT Title : Application of Learning Launch to experiment Online Tests and Assessments in COVID19 environment . Submitted by : Laura Godoy Reflection - Learning Launch Challenge : I am a professor working in a technical higher education institution in India . The prevailing mode of learning and assessment was predominantly within in the precincts of classroom and laboratories in a physical environment . However , the students and faculty members are acquainted with online mode for quiz assessment only . But the online quiz assessment was taking place in the computer centre ’s in the institution as per the predefined schedule . The course instructors were assigned for physical monitoring of the quiz conduction . With the sudden emergence of COVID 19 pandemic , the Government ’s initiative for series of lockdowns has necessitated the closure of technical higher education institutions in the State . To engage the students in online mode and to make sure that they do n’t lose connect with the academics , the institution has decided to offer online sessions and online assessments . This provided an opportunity and challenge to both the stakeholders . The normal classroom sessions were held using different open source platforms as per the choice and compatibility levels of instructors and students . The students were also guided in doing their assignments and posting them to the instructors successfully for assessment . However , the challenge aroused for both the stake holders when the institution decided to conduct open ended quiz and descriptive exams by allowing the students to sit in the comforts of home environment . It was also decided to leverage a standardized common platform across the institution for the conduction of the same . Selection : The nuances of above challenge can be understood by applying an experimentation tool among the stakeholders on prototype or mock basis . Based on the review of course content on Design Thinking , it was decided to use the tool of Learning Launch as it is felt appropriate to conduct experimentation among the stake holders and unearth the experiences . These experiences can in turn serve as basis for refining the solution idea to the problem or completely think of a new idea solution . The reason behind selecting Learning Launch is that it helps in figuring out what customers/ stake holders/ students and faculty members need . It helps in unfolding the reality faster and cheaper . Also lot of data can be generated in terms of experiences from both the students and faculty members . By generating huge amounts of qualitative and quantitative data , the tool can help us in protecting from confirming bias , which is common feature amongst the individuals . Finally the tool helps in Testing and learning philosophy , which is the core of customer centric solution . Application : The tool was applied to understand the experiences of the user groups . The faculty members were given virtual training in designing the question bank for open ended assessments . Online videos and materials were provided to the instructors to enable they understand the essence of open ended examination . Sample question papers were set by faculty members and online interactive sessions were held with the instructors experienced in open ended assessments . This enabled the instructors to experience the setting of questions for open ended tests . The second level included interaction between the instructors and students involving the instructors giving guidance to students . The guidance was pertaining to the interpretation and understanding the process of open ended examination . Sample questions were given as assignments to the students and this was followed by interactive sessions to clear any apprehensions about the proposed format .In certain cases , the queries were recorded and provided with clarification through various online interactive plat forms . The third level involved virtual hands on training for the faculty members to make them acquainted with the creation and uploading of question papers on to the platform along with setting up of certain security controls . This phase invoked lot of queries from the faculty members in using the tool . The fourth level comprised of preparing standard operating procedures for both the faculty and students highlighting the do ’s and do nt ’s during the examination . The fifth level involved administration of mock online test to the students . This test ensured confidence among the students and instructors . About 10 % of the students sought clarifications . The sixth stage was focused on clearing the doubts posed by the students based on the mock experience . Insight : Application of Learning Launch tool enabled to test the assumptions . This opened about various issues such as obtaining the correct key by the student , network issues , scanning of the answer sheets and uploading issues . Some students do not possess the prescribed material as they left the material in dorms while leaving to their native places . This necessitates them to access online material . However , the tool does not allow the students to browse the information online as the minimization of screen will lock the exam screen . This requires obtaining separate key from the administrator after authentication from the students , mentor . This eats away students ’ allotted time . This in a way defeats the objective of open book examination and assessment . Approach : Based on the insights from the application of the tool , the team came up with few ideas to supplement the designed process and make it more effective . The ideas include suggesting the students to open the examination in one desktop , laptop , tablet or smart phone and supplement it with one more device of their choice mentioned earlier . The supplementary device can be used to browse and access the material on real time basis during the examination . A revised standard operating procedure is drafted and circulated to the students in accordance with the insights gained from conducting these experiments using the Learning Launch tool .