A crucial component of any course, regardless of delivery format, is the assessment of student learning. The information below provides suggestions on how to approach the assessment of student learning in your course for face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses.
In addition, we have two CETLSS resource sites devoted to assessment:
- Assessing Student Learning contains suggestions and resources for using a variety of assessment methods (exams, assignments, rubrics, informal assessments) in your course.
- Assignment Design contains videos and information to help you get started with the (re)design process using a research-based transparent assignment framework. We have included examples of redesigned assessments from across campus.
Examine Your Overall Assessment Strategy
There are multiple ways to assess student learning and you may wish to consider new methods as you transition to fully online. Start with your course goals and determine which methods are best suited for assessing each of your objectives. Consider how you might shift some of your ‘high stakes’ assessments to more ‘lower stakes’ assessments that provide evidence of student learning in more frequent and informal ways. Here are some methods for assessing student learning and how you might adapt them for online courses.
- Exams: Traditional timed, proctored exams are challenging in an online environment and tend to disadvantage students. Consider whether you can replace your proctored exam with an open book exam that promotes higher-level thinking and avoids technical issues that can arise during timed online tests. An alternative method to the traditional exam is to utilize frequent low-stakes quizzing. There are many benefits to assessing student progress with this method which encourages studying throughout the semester and lessens performance anxiety.
- Assignments: What are the essential assignments students need to complete in your course? You likely incorporate a variety of assignments in your course ranging from informal assessments to gauge what students are learning to summative assessments that will be used to determine what students learned in your course. For more complex and heavily weighted assignments, it is critical that guidelines and expectations are clear and you may wish to consider redesigning your assignments using the Transparent Assignment Template. Research on transparent assignment design has shown that transparency significantly increases student success and particularly for those that are underserved, first-generation, and low income. To help you with the (re)design process, see the CETLSS Assignment Design Resource Site.
- Informal Assessments: Frequent informal assessments are beneficial for checking student progress in relation to your goals. Try new ways of promoting accountability for engaging in course content and using low tech assessments in your online courses. Consider how you might grade online discussions by utilizing a discussion board rubric or having students reflect on the quality of their participation. Asynchronous discussions on Discussion Forum and FlipGrid can be highly beneficial ways to assess student learning. Both of these tools have a ratings/rubric feature and AsULearn recently added a new tool to make grading forums much easier.
Communicate Your Expectations for an Online Audience
Rethinking how you communicate your expectations for an online audience is essential-- especially in asynchronous courses. Students will need frequent reminders and messages from you that provide clarity around assignment guidelines. Consider uploading a two-minute Zoom recording that talks the students through the assignment and presents the criteria. Perhaps you can share an example of student work and discuss why the assignment received high marks. You can also open a Discussion Forum for an assignment Q & A. Once you have answered a question in the forum, you can easily refer students to your previously posted answers. Last, consider utilizing the Announce page for timely reminders about due dates and tips on how to be successful.
Provide Frequent, Timely, and Specific Feedback
Research shows that quality feedback, delivered at the appropriate time, is one of the top influences on student achievement. Since discussion boards are utilized frequently in asynchronous courses, consider how you can deliver strategic feedback for online discussions. This Chronicle Advice Guide describes the qualities of good feedback and offers methods and tools that can be used to provide crucial feedback for learning to include video and audio options. Don’t forget Turnitin provides options for providing feedback in a variety of ways and activities such as Digital Gallery Walks and peer reviews are effective strategies that enable students to give feedback to each other.
Use AsULearn Tools for Efficiency
AsULearn tools can aid in efficiency which can become even more important in online classrooms. For assignments, the Rubric and Grading Guide offer efficient methods for grading student products against specific criteria. In both tools, you can utilize a frequent comment bank to provide feedback to students quickly. You can grade papers directly in a PDF without downloading to save time. Consider whether some of your assignments can be completed by a group. Students can use Zoom, Google Chat, and Google Docs for working together. Once products are submitted in the Assignment Tool, you can distribute the grade and comments to all group members at once by using the Group Submission Setting. For more tips and suggestions, add yourself to the AsULearn for Faculty Group so you watch videos and read news and tips about Quiz Tool, Turnitin, Rubric and Marking Guide, etc. To join this group, go to the group page and click the Join Group icon.