Best Practices in Online Assessment

Adapted from “Best Practices for Student Learning, Assessment in Online Courses”

Assessments Based on Learning Outcomes/Objectives

• Specific and Measurable• Can use a variety of assessments to verify

achievement of the learning outcomes• Formative and Summative

Formative Assessment

• Provide faculty & students with regular feedback on mastery of course module outcomes; faculty use results to refine instruction & students rely on results to identify areas for further study

• I consider all Moodle quizzes, crossword puzzles, most online assignments to be formative•Weekly modules• Essentially open-book• Low stakes points

Summative Assessment

• Results used to assign grades & make summary conclusions about course outcome mastery; goal is not diagnostic feedback but accountability

• Written exams, major projects and papers, final practical exams

Summative Assessment

• Recommendations• High stakes exams NOT online• Exams weighted at 150% & higher grading scale i.e. 92% for “A”• Offset “extra” formative assessment points

• Address potential issues related to plagiarism and cheating with projects and papers• Include statements: • Any evidence of plagiarism or copying from another

student will result in a zero for this assignment and any others in the course and students may be referred to the Dean of Student Affairs for further sanctions.

• TurnitIn- requesting in next budget cycle

Types of Formative Assessments

• Discussion posts• Quizzes• SoftChalk• Video critiques• Self assessment and video of technique performed

• Peer review• Weekly competency evaluations

Types of Summative Assessments

• Midterm and final exams• Papers • Projects• Portfolios• Presentations• Lab Practicals• CCA

Assessment Techniques Summary Optimal strategy is to use a variety of

assessment techniques to measure student learning

Reserve constructed response assessments & simulations to measure higher-order skills & competencies

Employ fixed-choice assessments to test knowledge & lower-order skills

What is a “constructed response” assessment?• Constructed responses require students to

"construct" or develop their own answers without the benefit of any suggestions or choices.  Students generate and intertwine their ideas into a response that is directly related to the item.  Students generate a response in the form of a few sentences, a graphic organizer, or a simple drawing/diagram with explanation. 

Assessment Techniques Summary Fixed-choice assessments, constructed

response measures, & simulations may be used for formative & summative purposes

Online discussions & brief fixed-choice assessments ideally suited for formative assessment goals i.e. Moodle quizzes

Constructed response exercises requiring integration of course content appropriate for summative evaluation

Assessment formats Knowledge: multiple-choice, true/false,

matching, fill in the blank, short answer

Application: multiple-choice, short answer, essay

Analysis and higher order behaviors: multiple-choice, essay, project, portfolio, simulation, presentation, paper

Case Studies

• Assessment:• Formative & Summative

• Purpose:• Foster Critical Thinking• Clinical Decision Making

• Example:• Moodle Lesson • Case Studies 102• Group Case Study• Individual Case Study

Self Assessments & Reflective Learning

• Assessment:• Formative 

• Purpose:• Assess skills• Reflect on experiences• Critically think• Apply newly learned content

• Example:• Video critique• Rubric

Discussion Boards

• Assessment:• Formative

• Purpose:• Critically think• Interact with classmates

• Example:•Moodle• Complications and Contraindications

Scholarly Paper

• Assessment:• Summative

• Purpose:• Critically think• Reflect on original ideas• Tie in literature

• Example:• Chiropractors and Adverse Drug Events (Pharmacology paper)