Best Practices

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Get Creative and Mix it up

Using different types of assessments allow students to be assessed from a number of perspectives using diverse sets of skills. Allow some assessments options for students to choose from that have various levels of challenges. Take advantage of a variety of modes of representation and item response formats (i.e. video, audio files, drag-and-drop, discussion forums, blogs) so don’t be afraid to let your creative juices flow!

Student Progress Report and Tracking

  • When students can access progress reports, it allows them to keep track of their own learning progress. It is particularly helpful when assignments/quizzes can be done in any order.
  • If possible, build a grade book at the beginning of course or create your own using Excel.
  • As instructors, you can use tracking features of your course management system as one of the ways to assess students to contribute to a more comprehensive evaluation with student assignments, discussion postings, presentations, quizzes, and essays.

Summary of Best Practices for Online Assessments

  • Keep assessments relevant and appropriate to the learning objectives and scope of the course.
  • Clearly outline the “how, when, and where” of online logistics. Providing students with instructions on what to do if they face technical difficulties and encouraging them to keep the instructions available when taking the assessment help reduce anxiety.
  • Quick and frequent feedback on progress, postings, papers, and other student work facilitates learning while promoting and maintaining student motivation. Individualized feedback is preferable for optimizing student learning experience.
  • Provide opportunity to self-test via practice quizzes online (use automatic grading to save time). Opportunities to retake quizzes/tests can help enhance student learning experiences
  • It is generally best to use open-book quizzes or tests.
  • Give campus-based, proctored tests when it is feasible to do so.
  • Give timed online tests utilizing a variety of question types (i.e. multiple choice, fill-in, and short answer). Deliver one question at a time.
  • Promote academic honesty by asking deep thinking questions, taking preventive measure, utilizing plagiarism detection tools and features of course management systems.
  • Take test security measures such as issuing a password to access a test and using features of course management system such as locking down a browser to prevent printing, copying, going to another URL, or accessing other applications.
  • Create a FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) section to respond to common and recurring questions
  • If you see students who are not actively participating, follow up with them through email.