U6 Activity 6.1

Throughout the teaching and learning process there are several steps that must be done in a sequenced manner. For instance, it is not possible to evaluate a knowledge that is unknown; therefore evaluation cannot be done at the beginning of a course. We can, however, apply a diagnostic test before beginning a course so that we get to know the knowledge that students have, but this does not give us a feedback of the knowledge they are supposed to acquire during the course. For this reason, we must clarify what is evaluation and what is the main the purpose of it.

There are many authors that give us definitions of evaluation, but this time we will use the definition given by WHO (1998) quoted by Green et al, who tells us that evaluation is “The systematic examination and assessment of the features of an initiative and its effects, in order to produce information that can be used by those who have an interest in its improvement or effectiveness.”  In other words, those who want to test their performance or effectiveness in a certain area or subject are those who are evaluated (just like in a classroom; in regards of knowledge acquired, the students are the ones evaluated). Continuing with the same, Springett, cited by Green et all, tells us that the purpose/aim of the evaluation is “… to contribute towards solving practical problems, in terms of what works and why. It is about collecting information to inform action. Most of all it is about learning from experiences.”

Following this, let's focus a bit on how evaluation is used and how it affects the whole process of teaching and learning in a distance course because this is what we want to clarify. The main obstacle we encountered when we evaluate a distance learning course is the time from which the exercise is performed until the teacher returns via internet feedback and response to students. After this, if the students have any questions with their grades, the process must be repeated until all doubts have been clarified. So… what should we, as teachers, do to effectively evaluate a distance learning course? I would definitely recommend the use of rubrics. When teachers present to the students the way in which they are going to be evaluated (whether it is in a distance course or face-to-face course) students get to know the activities they must do and perform throughout the course.

Serve everything what was written in the previous lines to clarify what is evaluation, its use and purpose. It is important to clarify as well that one should not confuse "to evaluate" with "to asses" because the fact of assessing goes within the evaluation process.