Learner Assessment in Online Courses Best Practices & More 8 Methods

How do you measure learner assessment in online courses as a creator? How do you plan? Planning is very essential as a creator. But before getting into the entire process we need to understand the entire assessment process. As today student assessment has changed, and new technologies have evolved. No more pen and paper methods are in practice today.

However, assessment is a powerful way to check on the outcome of each student and assure the course completion process. As a creator, you need to design assessments of your online learning in such a way as to make your course better and scale well.

Therefore, today we will discuss 8 ways how you can evaluate your learner assessment in online courses.

Let’s begin the process and explore it in a better way.

Table of Contents

8 methods of learner assessment in online courses

Let’s understand the eight most standard assessment techniques to support student learning.

1. Online quizzes

Quizzes are a standard assessment tool. But when paired with technology, they become a perfect way to engage student learning. Quiz questions have different types such as multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blanks etc. One usefulness of quizzes is that they are short and easy to evaluate. However, online quizzes are perfect for measuring learning across a wide audience. As each student takes the same test, you can compare and contrast the results. You can also implant a knowledge check test at the end of the course to evaluate students’ overall performance.

2. Open-ended questions

Open-ended questions are one of the most popular assessment methods and it encourages learners to explore their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. This type of question enables critical thinking and is best suited for assessing higher-level learning. Open-ended questions demand a longer time for students to think, organize, and answer the question. Also, it is one of the best and most useful methods of learner assessment in online courses.

3. Online discussion

You can combine a video conference within your online teaching and have conversation and discussion. This will help students display their proficiency. Sometimes it may be helpful to conduct group interviews also. Interviews can also have a mentoring element enabling students to get direct feedback from teachers and help them feel more accountable for their studies. However, Graphy has got these features, so as a course creator you don’t have to worry. Use our 14 days trial to get the experience.

4. Online polls

Online polls are also another best method for learner assessment in online courses. Online polls permit you to catch feedback directly from your audience about their learning experience and you can measure it. Online surveys are positively engaging for learners because they get to share their opinions. As an online course creator can also use poll questions when you want to focus your learners’ attention on something important.

5. Forum posts

A forum is an online discussion board where you discuss any organized topic. Asking students to contribute to a forum post is a perfect way to gauge their performance, check on their interests, and help their learning. In this activity, students are given a vital thinking question based on a lesson. Their answers are then posted to a forum and their counterparts are allowed to respond. This method is excellent to use when you want learners to interact, share, and collaborate as part of the learning process.

6. Game-type activities

Game-based assessments are supposed fun and they are generally a good indicator of true mastery and knowledge. Besides, they have been shown to improve learning by encouraging the development of non-cognitive skills like discipline, collaboration, and problem-solving. Add game-type activities when you want to entertain and question your students in a non-traditional way. Businesses have found that game-type activities work well in employee training, while schools have found that high-achieving students enjoy contending with their equivalents in learning games.

7. Give self-assessment options

Reflection and self-assessment are crucial elements if you want your learning environment to become learner-focused. Self-assessment is an exceptional strategy that will increase the learners’ satisfaction. Be sure to:

Include your expectations for self-assessment at the beginning of your course
Provide learners a diary in PDF form, where they can record their reflections and enable them to register all these at the end of each section.

8. Problem-solving case studies

Case studies involve analyzing a real-life example of an event to gain tremendous insight into what could be done. It is an ideal assessment tool and practices for students as they help bridge the gap between theory and practice. It is a genuine impulse for anyone to solve problems and provide solutions to situations. So, why not take benefit of this to provide an interactive learning experience? Engaging your audience in this fashion and letting them interact in the lesson provides a highly personalized learning experience and inspires a student’s retention levels.

Every student is not equal. Some can grasp quickly and some may be a slow learner. Using these 8 methods of learner assessment in online courses will definitely help a student to grow and is vital for a student. So it’s a creator’s responsibility to keep track of their course and this will help you to notice every student in a personal way and also you can give your full attention to them.

What are the types of assessments?

The first thing an online instructor should be mindful of is the two different types of assessments that the educational theory indicates: Formative and summative assessments.

Let’s know about each in detail.

1. Formative assessment

Formative assessment collects information throughout the course syllabus and then later information is used to guide teaching and enhance learning, student engagement, and student performance. The key element of formative assessment is feedback, whether the assessment is a quiz or a written assignment in a discussion forum.

2. Summative assessment

Summative assessment gathers and examines students and interactions after a course and whether they have completed specified goals. Summative assessments generally result in grades. The routine task is an example of a summative assessment. Another essential term to think about is the term “Authentic assessment”. Authentic activities show not only the addition of knowledge but the ability to apply that learning as a professional. They become even more powerful and donate to student success when we call students to reflect on what they have learned. You will find that learners are more committed to your learning process activities if the activities near align with what they desire to learn.

What is the implication of online assessment in the eLearning process

Assessments are undoubtedly one of the most critical aspects of practical instruction. They decide whether or not the educational goals have been met as an essential part of instruction. By determining areas of excellence and skills gaps, teachers can plan enrichment activities for their students. Assessments are equally essential from both a learner’s and an instructor’s point of view. Educators must think about the assessments before they begin planning their online courses. As course creators face a lot of design challenges, also have to work on combining the content with the instructional methods, as define how they will assess the learners.

Here are a few questions as an educator you must ask yourself for doing learner assessment in online courses.

What am I going to evaluate?
How will I measure it?
What’s proof of the goals that I have in mind?

Instead of just jumping to the learning activities, instructors should plan precisely how they will use them.

Assessment tasks are an active part of the course. Learners use assignments to learn whether they have a reasonable understanding of the topic and explain what they have learned. The feedback and grades that teachers give are both educational and motivating for students. With most online learning platforms and Graphy being automated and interconnected, instructors can identify the advantages of a documented, consistent assessment process, allowing educators to provide quick feedback and help students learn.

Celebrating every win of your learners will help them to achieve their goals. Make sure you understand them and solve their problems with a positive mindset and they see you as their mentor. However, the implementation of assessment is a must in the eLearning business.

The key takeaway

In this article, we have showcased how to conduct learner assessment in online courses. We wish as a creator you implement these methods to make your course successful. It’s not that critical to do an assessment but make sure you celebrate milestones they achieve, so it will take them closer to their goal with appropriate feedback. Don’t forget to include exams, authentic assessments, self–assessments, and weekly assignments that include discussion assignments. Instead, ask your students as did they meet their goals? If the answer is yes, this means that you have made a difference in their lives and that you are thriving as a course creator.

However, Graphy is an intuitive LMS and can help you with both creating your assessments and delivering the proper exposure through certificates to your students. We wish your students grow with flying colors.

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