Week 5 #1: WebQuesting and Designing Alternative Assessment Rubrics to Enhance PBL

Hello everyone!


This is week 5 of our course, exactly have the duration of the course. Time really flies!

I have read about Project-based Learning (PBL), alternative assessment, rubrics, checklists and WebQuests.

PBL is an offshoot of inquiry learning and, for me, WebQuests constitute the web-based versions of PBL. With this approach of teaching/learning, standardized traditional tests like MCQs, fill the gaps, answer true or false etc. cannot effectively measure performance because PBL activities go beyond the simple, routine memorization of formulas and rules. This is where alternative assessment via checklists and rubrics sets in. Content, assiduity, respect of deadlines/timelines, interactivity, to name but these, are some of the components of PBL for assessment. In this regard, I have learned that well conceived learning projects and evaluation rubrics formulated by teachers in synergy with learners bring about learner autonomy and  lead to better outcomes/end products. The motivation aspect of this cannot be overemphasized. After all, who does not know that our present-day learners are largely (becoming) digital natives and are so enthusiastic and motivated to learn on their own and thanks to digital technologies?

Just take a look at the following photographs of my Cinquieme (the second grade in Francophone secondary schools in Cameroon) students at Les Armandins High Yaounde. I took the photos with my laptop around April this year...

Did you notice that the students were scrambling and crowding in front of the camera? Did you notice that they are so excited to be photographed in class? They have never scrambled or crowded like this in front of their textbook when I move round the class showing them things therein. This shows that they are motivated, enthusiastic and excited about new technologies. In spite of poverty that limits their access to these gadgets, they are all eager to become full digital natives/citizens.

Now, just suppose I sit down with them, introduce them to WebQuests, draft assessment rubrics with them and send them to do the following WebQuest on Present Simple Tense at Zunal.com. You can then imagine the amount of motivation this will generate among the students and the fun and ease with which they will master and practice the present simple tense far away from their (largely scarce) textbooks. Such is what this week has taught me. What did you learn on you part, dear blog visitor?


In addition, this week also gave me the opportunity to do the forth tasks en route to my final project plan for the course. We were asked to describe ONE technological tool that we will use to resolve the ONE issue or problem we identified in our class last week. For me, my students' reading and writing skills are poor and I have described how I will using blogging to remedy this situation.

I also created some assessment rubrics for evaluating a narrative essay on Rubistar. The experience was fantastic, quick, smooth and enriching. Similarly, I created a WebQuest entitled Trip to America at Zunal.com and this earned me five extra credits. The process was fun but also demanding and time-consuming. However, I will never quit because winners never quit and quitters never win.


Tinatin and others, I hope you are happy I brought back photos to this blog. I now know that you enjoy them. Perhaps, you are good visual learners (or I should say teachers?).

Thanks for visiting and  commenting. Be blessed.

Best of love,
Nsah Mala
Cameroon