Watermark Insights TK20

Fitchburg State University is transitioning to Watermark Planning and Self-Study during the 2023-24 academic year. If you have any questions about either TK20 or Planning and Self-Study please contact Cate Kaluzny at ckaluzny@fitchburgstate.edu.

We utilize the TK20 direct assessment tool from Watermark Insights to gather and assess student work, to conduct Juried Assessment of collections of student work, and to assess portfolios of student work. Please see the glossary for definitions of terms and further references. 

Instructions for Creating Assessments Using TK20

This is an assessment that you will complete and possibly grade immediately after the assignment is due. This links an assignment in TK20 to Blackboard.

Rubric must be created in TK20

If you already have a rubric built in TK20, contact Director of Assessment to create an Assignment Template for you, if you have not already done so.

To Create a New Rubric:

  1. Use the Rubric Template (MS Word) to create a new rubric. Send to Director of Assessment to be created in TK20.
  2. Director of Assessment will upload rubric and create the “Assessment Tool” for you.

If You Have a Previously Used Rubric:

  1. Send it to Director of Assessment to determine if it can be recreated in TK20.
  2. Once in TK20, the Director of Assessment will create the “Assessment Tool” for you.

Create an Assignment Template

Create your Assignment Template in TK20 prior to creating the Assignment in your Blackboard Shell. Follow the instructions for Creating an Assignment Template (PDF).

Send the Assignment so it is active in Blackboard:

  1. Follow the instructions for Sending an Assignment (PDF).

Create the Assignment in your Blackboard Shell:

  1. Go to the course you wish create a TK20 assignment within.
  2. Click the Assignments Tab.
  3. Under Build Content, click TK20 Coursework.
  4. Name your Assignment (NOTE: the name must match the Assessment Template that was created in TK20).
  5. You may add information in the description box if desired.
  6. You may attach a file if desired.
  7. Under Enable Evaluation, click the YES radial button.
  8. Enter the value of the points possible for the assignment. When you are assessing the submission you will have the option of sending a grade to the Blackboard gradebook.
  9. Complete any other information as you would any other assignment created in Blackboard (e.g. setting due dates, etc.).
  10. Click Submit.
  11. Check the assignment and ensure the link to TK20 is complete. Click on the newly created assignment and it will transport you to TK20. If this doesn’t happen, first check that the assignment name and the TK20 Assignment Template have identical names. If that is not the problem, contact the Director of Assessment for help.

Assessing the Assignment once Students Submissions Have Been Captured:

  1. Follow the instructions for Assessing an Assignment (PDF).
  2. You will be able to send the grade directly to the Grade Book in Blackboard, if you choose.

(This is done directly in TK20.)

Rubric must be created in TK20:

  1. See Step 1 in Creating, Sending and Linking an Assignment (above).

Create an Assessment Portfolio Template and send the Assessment Portfolio:

  1. Follow the instructions on Sending an Assessment Portfolio (PDF).

Assessing an Assessment Portfolio:

  1. Follow the instructions on Assessing an Assessment Portfolio (PDF).

Students' Completion of an Assessment Portfolio in TK20:

  1. Students must log-in to TK20 using their Falcon Key.
  2. Follow the instructions for Completing an Assessment Portfolio (PDF).

This is an assessment that is done after the fact in TK20 – not linked to Blackboard.

Rubric must be created in TK20:

  1. See Step 1 in Creating, Sending and Linking an Assignment (above).

Create an Observation:

  1. Follow the instructions for Completing an Observation (PDF).

Juried Assessments are performed using TK20. These must be created by our University Administrator. Please contact the Director of Assessment to have yours created. 

Assignment:  Any task, such as an essay, lesson plan, or reflection, assigned to a student and sent through a course.

Observation:  An assessment of a student delivering a lesson plan or other presentation either in a classroom or as a part of the field experience. Observations are conducted independent from student submissions.

Portfolio:  Collection of documents and resource assembled over the course of a student’s educational career which can be shared with potential employers.

Rubric:  Criteria used to grade an assignment constructed in Form Builder. A rubric is also the physical document used to score an assignment and to provide feedback to a student.

Template:  An outline of a file or assignment that needs to be created.

The above is taken from the TK20 Watermark website where you can find additional terms and references.

Need Help?

If you have problems creating any of the assessments in TK20 or in Blackboard, please contact Cate Kaluzny, Director of Assessment.