Dochy - The use of self-, peer and co-assessment in higher education: A review

 Peer assessment is an excellent way to engage students in course content and build interpersonal relationships in the classroom.  I am particularly interested in how we can play off the inherent social networking strengths of information technologies in the classroom.  All the components are there to make a compelling peer assessment activity for students using mobile technology.

I envision a collaborative learning environment where students can post and easily assess peer responses in a student centered informal assessment activity on mobile devices.  Just as a good analog lesson without technology, needs to be compelling, relevant and accessible to student learners in order to maximize student motivation, new pedagogical models need to reassess how to inspire and motivate learning on mobile devices.  

Some researchers are looking at how software design patterns can be used to support human behaviors when using information technologies.  Within the classroom setting student behavior needs to be supported and guided to increase confidence and motivation in manipulating course content for peer reviewed formative assessments.  In order to integrate peer assessment with mobile technologies in a classroom, the software interface needs to reflect the psychological underpinnings of what motivates and inspires users to participate in a peer assessment activity using mobile devices.  

miller 2015 ch9

The article offered a variety of good teaching advice to promote student engagement and accountability.  There were several ideas that I felt are significant for teaching with technology.  Future learning environments will benefit from collaborative learning and peer instruction.  Miller points out that through collaborative learning lessons can emphasize critical thinking and higher thought processes.  

This is an important shift in contemporary pedagogy because it implies some relinquishment of didactic learning models.  Online technology offers two primary contributions to learning.  The first is accessing information the second in the inherent social networking potential of the devices.  If we are going to use mobile technology in the classroom, both strengths of mobile devices need to be incorporated into structured activities in the classroom.  I believe that mobile devices at this point of classroom integration offer these two resources for classroom enrichment.  The most important part of technology integration is thoughtful application and meaningful integration into everyday lessons.  

The experience of three flipped classrooms in an urban university: an exploration of design principles

The flipped classroom promises a learning environment where students are applying course content and not just absorbing it.  This integration and utilization of technology allows for a project based learning environment that allows for student centered learning and peer instructed learning models that engage students and hold them accountable for alternative assessment opportunities.  

The author acknowledges some limitations of this learning models in that some students may not participate in the online tutorials.  Students critique this learning model by identifying that the tutorials need to connect to classroom activities.  The researchers acknowledged that there needs to be clear guidance with structured scaffolded activities and specific in class  goals and learning objectives.  Despite these limitations, a flipped classroom learning model allows for a progressive student centered learning environment in the classroom.  Nevertheless, proponents of the learning model indicate that higher levels of cognitive activities are utilized in the classroom.  The author brings to the attention of the reader that ultimately there is a need for specific design principles the flipped classroom to maximize student learning.  

Ultimately, I find that student efficacy and teacher organization to be the limiting factors of this learning model.  I find that this acknowledgment further highlights how organic and personal contemporary education is.  New teaching models may show promise in contemporary education, however, there needs to be relevant and organized implementation of such pedagogical models.