Tests and quizzes are two of the most common forms of classroom assessment, prompting students to demonstrate the information they learned throughout the year. However, a common argument about online coursework is that there is no way to ensure that students are being academically honest. After all, what stops them from using their textbooks, notes or the Internet to find the answers?
Instead of using quizzes and tests as a primary cumulative assessment tool, online professors can employ them in other ways. For example, giving a pre-test at the beginning of a class, before any information is bestowed, can help prepare an educator and the class for the rest of the course work. This type of test determines how much students already know and what areas the professor needs to focus on during instruction. The students will not benefit from cheating on this test, and the educator gets a feel for their knowledge.
Online instructors can also give quizzes and tests as intentional open-book assessments. Instead of testing how much information the student has retained, this type of assessment will test a student's research capabilities. Encourage students to research information that they can only find in their textbooks or on certain web sites.
Online educators can get a feel for their students' opinions and skills by hosting open discussion boards.
Many schools and universities use programs that allow students to post threads of questions and opinions on the class's online page. This tool enables professors to ask critical thinking questions or opinion-based surveys to communicate with and assess the students.
Discussions allow students to express their opinions critically and intelligently; while research may be required to back up the information, the opinion and analysis is up to the student. Professors will often post articles or web sites for students to analyze and respond to.
While professors cannot necessarily use this tool to know what the students have memorized, they can assess critical thinking skills and written communication skills to get a feel for their students and individual personalities.
Similar to discussion board, journals can play a key role in online course assessment.
Where discussions are visible to everyone in the class in most programs, professors can have students e-mail journal entries directly, eliminating interference from other students and maintaining confidentiality for potentially controversial or private topics.
Direct journal entries can also enable professors to provide individualized feedback to the students, since only the student and the professor will see the information provided.