Learner Centred Learning/LCL Course Assessments

=Assessment= '''To pass the formal course in 2012: Participants must - undertake and successfully complete all assessment activities.'''

There are three assessment activities. An on line activity that involves ongoing participation in a discussion board on learning and teaching, a written assessment in which you reflect on your teaching practice and an assessment that enables you to explore your own beliefs around learning and teaching. These collectively cover all learning outcomes.


 * 1.	Learning centred learning discussion (online discussion) 	- 21 May 2012


 * 2.	Critical review of teaching practice (written assessment) 	- 28 May 2012


 * 3.	Teaching philosophy (your choice of presentation format) 	- 18 June 2012

1.	Learner Centred Learning Discussions
Activity

Participate in the online discussions on this course’s Moodle discussion board sharing your thoughts and experiences related to the topics that are discussed.

Assessment Whilst participating in the online discussions 3 of your postings must meet the following assessment criteria:

Marking criteria

Achievement of the following criteria will result in a successful pass for this assessment:


 * Acknowledge relevance to your own teaching context
 * Be supported with literature &/or examples

Due Date: three contributions meeting the above criteria must be posted on the Moodle discussion board by Monday 21 May 2012

2.	Critical review of teaching practice (written assessment)
Assessment Submit a written critique of your learner centred teaching approach in a teaching session you have facilitated. Include a copy of the written feedback from the observer – see the process outlined below. (Word count guide = 600 to 1200 words for the critique)

Process
 * 1.	Develop and facilitate a learner centred learning session


 * 2.	Have an observer present during this session. The observer will be required to give you written feedback on this session. (Full guidelines for the observer are available on Moodle)

The critique should include comment on:
 * 3.	Write a critique of your learner centred approach in the facilitation of this session and include comment on the feedback from your observer.
 * the context (who, where, when, what)
 * your facilitation approach and style - including acknowledgment of the learner centred learning approaches used and your rationale  for using these
 * any potential changes you would make to improve your approach and your rationale for these changes
 * the observer’s feedback and your thoughts on this

NB: Critical discussion and reflection involve a depth of thought that considers a variety of perspectives including your own. Critical in this sense refers to reviewing or analysing in depth, it does not mean focusing on negativity.

Marking criteria

Achievement of the following criteria will result in a successful pass for this assessment:


 * Description of the learning session including context
 * Well supported critical reflection on your own facilitation style and approach (what you did and how)
 * Well supported consideration of student diversity (cultural, learning and other)
 * Critical reflection on any potential changes
 * Consideration of the observers feedback
 * Discussion throughout is well supported with literature sources
 * Word processed with specific and consistent referencing (preferably APA style)
 * Material well structured and presented
 * Written feedback from observer included

Due Date: Must be completed and submitted by Monday 28 May 2012 (but can be completed earlier)

Submit by email or in hard copy to Veronique Olin [mailto:Veronique.Olin@op.ac.nz email]

Alternative Assessment 2 options
Copies of the other assignment 2 options are available on Moodle or from Veronique Olin [mailto:Veronique.Olin@op.ac.nz email]

Combined assessment

This assessment is for those doing the Gaining Foundations Skills for Learning and Teaching course concurrently with this Learner Centred Learning Course, combining the second assessment from the GFS course with the second assessment from the LCL course.

Alternative assessment

This assessment is for those who have completed the Gaining Foundations Skills for Learning and Teaching course previously and it builds on the work that you have already done. You will need to find your copy of the teaching practice assignment that you did in the GFS course.

3.	Teaching philosophy (your choice of presentation format)
Assessment Identify the concepts that are central to your teaching philosophy.

Choose one of those concepts and critically discuss the relevance and application of that concept to the way that you support learner centred learning.

Marking criteria

Achievement of the following criteria will result in a successful pass for this assessment:


 * Several concepts of your teaching philosophy clearly identified
 * One concept clearly singled out
 * Relevance of that concept to your teaching practice critically discussed
 * Application of that concept to your teaching practice supported with example/s
 * Clear evidence of wider reading/research
 * Referenced material clearly recorded

NB: this assessment can be presented in any recordable format of your choice ie, written form, audio tape, MP3, video, blog, PowerPoint, poster – go with whatever format suits you best as long as all criteria are met and the format can be easily accessed by the assessor.

(Purely as a guide: if written approx 800 words)

Due Date: Must be completed and submitted by Monday 18 June 2012

Submit chosen format to Veronique Olin [mailto:Veronique.Olin@op.ac.nz email]

Grading:

As the emphasis is on learning process rather than outcome there are 2 grades only in this course:  passed or not passed

=Referencing=

The final assessment requires you to include references to some of the extra material you have been reading.

The following links take you to some useful resources to help with referencing.

Citation Machine is a great website that takes you through all the steps of adding the information required for a reference then produces the formatted reference for you. You can then cut and paste it into your document. Very handy.

APA Referencing Guide is a great website that clearly describes all the information you would need to produce APA references. I'd particularly recommend the sections on in-text citations and the reference list sections. Quick access buttons for these can be found at the bottom of the first web page.