Assessment

Assessments mean no surprises

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There are many little clues to a student's progress that appear during class.Teaching online lacks these clues. Along with the shift of location and the shift of faculty role to facilitator, or coach, teaching becomes more student-centered. Assessment needs shift to evaluating a student's progress towards the completion of learning goals and objectives. Did the student achieve the objectives and goals of the unit and course? This shift changes the kind assessments, course assignments, and activities used in a course.

Assignments in online courses tend to be 'real' world oriented. Case Studies, current news articles, real life events are usually brought into a course int e form of documents, articles, podcasts or video.

In successful online courses assessments involves student choice. Online tests are similar to a take home exam done over a period of time when the student chooses. They are probably less multiple choice and more essay oriented and focus the student's application of knowledge and learning. Large capstone assignments have sub assignments that work as milestones for the teacher and the student.

There are several feedback mechanisms that are available to support this change in teaching. Faculty can use rubrics for easy review of the work.Grading can be done with the same flexibility at home or on the go with the mobile app.Submitted assignments can be reviewed online and the comments can be annotated on the paper, written in a separate area or recorded.There are survey tools and pre/post testing capabilities.

Successful online courses builds many opportunities for feedback into the class so all participants are aware of the course progress.

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