What are student assessments?
According to Dick, Carey, and Carey (2009), "Assessment is used as a broader term that includes all types of activities effective for demonstrating learners' mastery of new skills." This term is used instead of "testing" because that often implies paper and pencil multiple choice tests (p. 132). Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, and Zvacek (2012) define assessment as "the process of measuring, documenting, and interpreting behaviors that demonstrate learning" (p. 263). |
What kind of student assessments are used in distance education?
The types of assessment used in distance education include traditional methods used in the classroom but slightly altered. For example, quizzes or exams with multiple choice, true or false, or matching are still used but tests can be administered electronically through the internet with a course management system (CMS) that gives instant feedback after the test is submitted. Other forms of assessment that are more unique to online education include discussion forums, digital portfolios (Kim, Smith, & Maeng, 2011), and group projects using tools such as a wiki (den Exter, Rowe, Boyd, & Lloyd, 2012). |
Why is learning how to communicate in writing so important in distance education?
According to Stella and Corry (2012), online writing instruction makes use of technology, reading, and discussions. In addition, writing is a generative process that requires thinking! The authors state, "Facilitating thinking is a complex teaching endeavor whether it takes place in a face-to-face or online environment." Writing skills are essential to communicating effectively in online assessments such as discussion forums, blogs, or wikis as well as more traditional forms of assessment such as papers and essays that are now submitted electronically. |
21st Century Skills
"I'm calling on our nation's governors and state education chiefs to develop standards and assessments that don't simply measure whether students can fill in a bubble on a test, but whether they possess 21st century skills like problem-solving and critical thinking and entrepreneurship and creativity." President Barack Obama, Address to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, March 10, 2009 |