Jason Demas – Assessment Institute
Assessment Report
Beginning Volleyball
Course description: This course will teach beginner players as well as intermediate
players. Students will work on learning the entire game including forearm passing,
setting, serving, hitting, and knowledge of rules and terminologies.
1. Student learning outcomes
A. Students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to successfully
participate in a volleyball on a recreational level
This outcome is an extension of QCC Educational Objective #5: “integrate
knowledge and skills in their program of study.” Volleyball is a valued physical
activity that contributes to competence in Health Education, Physical Education,
Exercise Science, and Health Promotion.
B. Students will work with partners or with groups in practicing skills and
participating in structured activities
This outcome is an extension of QCC Educational Objective #7: “work
collaboratively in diverse groups directed at accomplishing learning objectives”
Students will work with partners and groups at all times in the gymnasium both
for practicing skills and collaboration purposes. Students will help each other
master the various volleyball skills as perform skill tests in pairs and in groups.
2. Course assignments
The beginning volleyball course focuses on teaching students general athletic skills
and specific volleyball skills, including the 4 essential parts of the game; forearm
passing, setting, serving, and hitting. The course will also focus on general
knowledge, knowledge, rules & terminologies, and intermediate and advanced
strategies. Each skill is individually taught with key technique points that the
student needs to focus on. During classes, students were taught the mechanics of
each skill, viewed a demonstration, and practiced each part within controlled drills
and game like scenarios. Students were given additional time to practice each skill in
pairs or in small groups while the instructor gave individual assistance to other
students.
3. Evidence used to determine how well students are achieving the outcomes
The Volleyball Skill Rubric was used to determine improvement of swilling skills
and general volleyball proficiency. This rubric covers 6 skills:
-
General Volleyball Skills & Knowledge
-
Forearm Passing
-
Setting/ Overhead Passing
-
Serving
-
Hitting
-
Rules & Terminology
Since this is a beginner course, skills like blocking are not covered within the
course. Advanced techniques such as defensive schemes and advanced hits are
only mentioned and not covered in the course due to the lack of consistency with
passing and setting.
Twenty-five students from one section were assessed according to the Volleyball
Rubric. Pretest assessments were conducted and assumed on fist day of class when
the individual skill was introduced. Posttest assessments were conducted on the
final days of the course when the class participated in advanced drills and game like
scenarios.
In a regular semester, the pretest would not have to be assumed but it was
developed in mid semester. Even though the first part of the rubric was assumed, it
is believed to be very accurate. The posttest assessment will be conducted at the end
of the course.
4. Analysis and summary of the assessment (see attached pretest and posttest
scoring sheets)
The results of the assessment show that overall; students who participated
improved in every category from pretest to posttest. Most of the class was full of
beginner players with only two players with a background of playing volleyball on
any sort of team. However the large group of beginners improved a lot through out
the semester. The most significant improvement came with rules and terminology
with only 4 students classified as distinguished for the pretest and 12 students
deemed distinguished during the posttest. This may be attributed to the fact that the
course reviewed rules and terms daily throughout the year. Students were also
tested twice on both. Certain skills like serving became easier for students, while
setting was more difficult. This could be present because skills from other sports
could be transferred for students who never served before, while setting is a
technique unique for volleyball. This could project for all skills if the pretest is given
at the beginning of the semester, students should show an improvement during the
posttest. If these students had more time or participated in a advanced volleyball
course, their skills should continue to improve.
5. Assessment results affect on student learning
It appears that the results of the pre and posttest did show that the class content
affected the student learning outcomes. All of categories showed improvement from
the pretest to posttest. The rubric helped many students understand how they were
graded on each skill. It also showed which area and skill set were more important.
Student improvement in volleyball depends on time spent within a game like
situation. Students who missed many earlier fundamental courses had issues
improving throughout the semester. Two out of the three students who were
classified, as needs improvement during the posttest had attendance issues and
could be the reason why they struggled. A solution to this is to allow students to
make up missed time in other sections of volleyball. Most colleagues in the HPED
department are open to this. Advanced volleyball requires technical mastery and
practice. Students are given the information, demonstration, group and individual
instruction and time to master each skill. The current volleyball skills rubric with
pre/posttest seems to be a good assessment for the course materials. A few
students, including the remaining student who was classified, as needs
improvement during the posttest performed well on written tests even if they were
not mastering the physical aspect of the game.
6. Artifacts
Attached are
1. Volleyball Rubric
2. Pretest results
3. Posttest results
25 Students Pretest
Skill
General Volleyball
Skills & Knowledge
Forearm Passing
4.Distinguished 3.Proficient 2.Developing 1. Need Improv
2
6
7
10
1
5
8
11
3
2
7
13
5
8
6
6
4
5
7
9
4
6
6
9
Setting/ Overhead
Passing
Serving
Hitting
Rules &
Terminology
25 Students- Posttest
Skill
General Volleyball
Skills & Knowledge
Forearm Passing
4.Distinguished 3.Proficient 2.Developing 1. Need Improv
5
10
7
3
4
12
7
2
5
8
9
3
10
8
6
1
9
8
6
2
12
8
5
0
Setting/ Overhead
Passing
Serving
Hitting
Rules &
Terminology