The following list describes how the learners will be assessed for this course and the weighting of each assessment.
This course uses both formative and summative assessments. This combination will aid learners in checking their knowledge throughout the modules and at the end of each being tested on the presented information.
Formative Assessments
- Each module has a written explanation and a Youtube video to learn the material, after which there will be a few questions to assess the learner’s knowledge of the new material
- These questions will be recorded through the website and answers will be provided immediately after the learner has submitted an answer, in order to receive feedback
- The questions will not be graded as these are for self-evaluation, feedback and interaction with the content which will be recorded as part of a 5% participation grade
Summative Assessments
- Quizzes: module quizzes completed over Google Form will take place at determined time intervals throughout the course duration each quiz will consist of 8-10 questions and will account for 30% of the final grade
- Lab Report: There will be one cumulative lab report for the evaluation of the strength of the various materials evaluated through a grading rubric accounting for 25% of the final grade
- Final Exam: At the end of the term there will be a final exam containing: multiple choice questions, true/false questions, short answer questions and calculation questions, this has a 45% weight in the final grade
Evaluation
The below table shows how the grade percentage breakdown is done for the above-listed assessments.
| Assessment | Weight |
| Participation | 5% |
| Quizzes (3 quizzes, 10% each) | 30% |
| Lab Report | 25% |
| Exam | 45% |
Additionally, this course will be evaluated using the University of Victoria grading scale shown below. It will require learners to obtain a 50% or higher to pass the course. The final grade is calculated from the weighted grades of the formative and summative assessments.
Further UVic grading scale details can be found here (https://www.uvic.ca/calendar/future/undergrad/index.php#/policy/S1AAgoGuV?bc=true&bcCurrent=14%20-%20Grading&bcGroup=Undergraduate%20Academic%20Regulations&bcItemType=policies)
Assessment Rationale
With the target audience being university students who have had previous experience in the university evaluation system, using the UVic grading scale would be the most consistent and familiar approach.
Question Styles:
- Multiple choice
- True or false
- Short answer
- Graphing and data analysis
- Long answer
- Calculations
Using a variety of question types will allow learners to have options in how to study and be evaluated.
A mixture of module quizzes and a final exam will allow the quizzes to ask more technical and specific factual questions and the exam can be more general and compare the learnings from each module. With the added participation grade it will evaluate if the learners are taking charge of their learning and trying to critically think about the material they are learning. Following along the module will take learners through the material to learn, to the formative assessment, an end-of-module quiz for each of the three subjects then to the final exam at the end of the term.