Online classes lack the face-to-face interactions that occur between teachers and students in a traditional classroom environment. Therefore, teachers of online classes need to use a variety of student assessment techniques to evaluate student learning. Use multiple assessment tools to evaluate student learning online.
Just like traditional classroom teachers, teachers of online classes can use objective tests and quizzes to evaluate student learning. Online test and quiz grades provide teachers with factual information on student learning.
Internet use in an online course allows the teacher to monitor student discussions in a different way than classroom discussions. Teachers of online classes can assess student learning by creating a class discussion board and posting topics relevant to the subject matter. Students post responses to the topics and discuss questions with each other on the class discussion board. For assessment, teachers monitor the board by reading and evaluating every student’s posts for grammar, content and understanding.
Students can step back and evaluate their own learning in an online class. Student self-assessment affects student performance because it encourages self-efficacy and the motivation to learn.
A portfolio, an organized collection of independent work, lets students show some creativity in an online class. For this type of assessment, teachers work with students to select portfolio content, guidelines and grading criteria. The portfolio assessment tool allows students to work independently throughout the duration of the unit. At the end of the term, students submit completed portfolios to the teacher. Teachers must grade each student’s portfolio according to the requirements previously agreed upon.