Article Critique Example

Assignment: Module 1
Article Critique

Overview Is it a misconception that online education is of less quality than its face-to-face, more traditional counterpart? In this module, we will be exploring exactly what is online education. To help you determine your own ideas of what is and what isn't included in quality online education, you will be asked to read and critique an article of your choice surrounding the topic of quality online education courses.

Deadline This activity has two deadlines:

1. Initial Post (Your Critique)
This post must be submitted by 5:00 a.m. (CST) on
Saturday, January 2o, 2007

2. Response to Classmates
You must respond to at least two different classmates' initial posts by 5:00 a.m. (CST) on
Monday, January 22, 2007

Points This activity is worth 20 point.

Goal & Objectives The purpose of this activity is to help us learn a little about each other in a fun way. Therefore, by completing this activity, students will:

Choose what to focus on and take control of their own learning experience;
Bring outside resources into the course;
Receive an extensive list of summaries of related resources which they can choose to read or archive for later use; and

Have Fun!!

Prerequisites & Needed Materials There is nothing to complete prior to submitting this activity.

No additional materials are required to complete this activity.

Instructor's Role My role as your instructor within the discussion forums is to help facilitate discussion by provided probing questions, asking for clarification, and helping problem solve conflicts as necessary. I will not respond to every post because I want you to share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas with each other..

Tips for Success To be more successful with this activity, consider the following tips:

Follow the peer feedback suggestion provided in the course information section of our virtual classroom.
Post on time.
Respond to at least two other student posts . Feel free to respond to more, but be careful not to dominate the forum by posting to too many. I recommend that no one responds to more than five posts.
Have Fun!!!

Instructions 1. Summarize and critique an online article or resource about The Quality of Online Education . This should be an article other than one assigned for this course. Think of this assignment as a way to build a collective online professional library. Your critique should include both positive points about the article and criticisms. Don't forget to discuss why you feel the way you do and reference other works and your own experience in this area as needed.

2. Include the complete URL (Web address) at the top of your posting (cutting and pasting it from your browser's address bar will avoid mistakes in doing this) so your classmates can link to the site. Make sure you include the http:// , so Moodle will automatically make a hyperlink.

3. Submit your post here by the date on the course calendar.

4. Please put the article title in the subject area of your posting. For example, "Is "As Good as Face-to-Face" As Good As It Gets? "

5. Post your assignment by clicking "Add a new discussion topic..." below. As new messages are posted, they will be listed at the bottom of this page. To read someone else's message, click on the title of their message.

6. Review the posts of your fellow classmates and respond to at least two different student posts by providing feedback and/or questions to their critiques by referencing other works, your experience, etc. To do this, click on the word REPLY , in blue, in the lower-right-hand corner of the box containing the text of the message you wish to respond to.

Assessment Criteria

Evaluation Criteria	Advanced (3 pts.)	Proficient (2 pts.)	Not There Yet (1 pt.)
Development of Ideas	Well-developed ideas; introduces new ideas; stimulates discussion. (weighted for a total of 6 points)	Developing ideas; sometimes stimulates discussion. (weighted for a total of 4 points)	Poorly developed ideas which do not add to discussion. (weighted for a total of 2 points)
Evidence of Critical Thinking	Clear evidence of critical thinking--application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Postings are characterized by clarity of argument, depth of insight into theoretical issues, originality of treatment, and relevance. Sometimes include unusual insights. Arguments are well supported.	Beginnings of critical thinking; postings tend to address peripheral issues. Generally accurate, but could be improved with more analysis and creative thought. Tendency to recite facts rather than address issues.	Poorly developed critical thinking. Postings do not address peripheral issues. More analysis and creative thought, including examples of how to relate this information to personal situation. Facts are recited rather than address issues or not provided.
Response to Students & Instructor	Interacts with at least two other students and provides constructive criticism and ideas for improvement or ways to implement information in a personal setting.	Interacts with at least two other students and provides feedback that goes beyond "good job," but does not provide constructive feedback or ideas for improvement or ways to implement information in a personal setting.	Interacts with at least one other student and provides feedback that goes beyond "good job," but does not provide constructive feedback or ideas for improvement or ways to implement information in a personal setting.
Timeliness & Mechanics	Assignment is posted by midnight on the due date listed in course calendar. Standard English mechanics and grammar were used in initial post and post presented in a logical format that is easy to follow.	Assignment is posted no more than 24 hours after the due date. Minimal problems with mechanics such as spelling and grammar errors, poor sequencing causing the readers confusion, and/or poor layout such as inconsistent font sizes, font colors, headings, and/or text alignment.	Assignment is posted more than 24 hours after the due date. Numerous problems with mechanics such as spelling and grammar errors, poor sequencing causing the readers confusion, and/or poor layout such as inconsistent font sizes, font colors, headings, and/or text alignment.