March 3, 2003.The Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL) held a symposium for Columbia faculty on February 18 to discuss resources and tools used in the evaluation of teaching practice. Educational Technologist Liliana Pinto demonstrated three different assessment tools: Individual Development Educational Assessment (I.D.E.A.) Students Rating of Instruction System; the test, quiz, and survey features of CourseWorks; and Flashlight.

The I.D.E.A. system, developed at Kansas State University, compares course objectives and student comments to similar courses in the I.D.E.A. database to suggest specific teaching strategies to improve learning outcomes.

The test and survey section in CourseWorks can be used to create and implement different assessment strategies about both course activities and student understanding of particular topics. CourseWorks provides tabulated results of student scores and a distribution of class responses.

The Flashlight Program is a collection of tools and resources to develop plans for evaluating and improving the educational uses of technology. One of its main resources is the "Current Student Inventory," an indexed archive of 500 questions for drafting surveys, questionnaires, and protocols for interviews and focus groups. It includes an evaluation handbook that provides guidance for creating studies, readings, resources, case studies, bibliographies, and related websites. Columbia University has a license to use Flashlight resources.

For more information on the symposium or any of the tools presented, including access to the Flashlight Program, please contact Lilana Pinto (lnp19@columbia.edu) at 212-854-0207.

See more on I.D.E.A.: Track

See more on uses of CourseWorks

See more on Flashlight

See more on American Association for Higher Education, Assessment Forum

See more on ERIC Clearinghouse for assessment, evaluation, assessment, and research information: Track

See more on The Free Assessment Summary Tool (F.A.S.T.): Track