Summer 2013 Issue Available

Special issue on MOOCs & Technology available in Flipbook and PDF formats   |   

The Summer 2013 issue of RPA opens with an overview penned by Cathy Sandeen of the American Council on Education who describes the organizational distinctions between the three major MOOC providers, macro social factors driving change, and the vital role of the assessment profession in this new model of education. In a study on learning, Breslow et al. offer some of the first published empirical data from a MOOC course. The authors examine course components and how student achievement and persistence can be conceptualized in the first MOOC course offered by edX. Meyer and Zhu introduce readers to item response theory, scale linking and score equating in order to discuss the evaluation of student learning in MOOCs that yield fair and equitable test scores. Stephen Balfour, a Director of Information Technology at Texas A&M, navigates readers through the intricacies of scaling the assessment of student writing assignments by contrasting two unique technologies: automated essay scoring (AES) and calibrated peer review (CPR).

In an insightful review, Catharine Stimpson, former President of the Modern Language Association, engages the recently released book by Salman Khan (of Khan’s Academy) entitled, The One World Schoolhouse. A second review is presented in an admirable mentoring approach by a team of James Madison University graduate students and their professor who dialogue with Richard Shavelson and his work, Measuring College Learning Responsibly. Lastly, Katie Busby encourages assessment professionals to give serious consideration to the recent book authored by Keeling and Hersh, We’re Losing Our Minds.

Finally, this issue ends with the Ruminate section as further consideration is given to Schumpeter’s notion of new combinations in a provocative visual form. For many, I encourage you to begin the issue here, contemplating the photography of Huong Fralin and various excerpts on innovation. Art has a way of beckoning us to consider the circumstances of life through a new lens…which is the aim of this issue.

The full Summer 2013 issue may be viewed here:  http://www.rpajournal.com/archive/

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