Best Practices in Online Assessment

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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Types of Formative Assessments • Discussion posts • Quizzes • SoftChalk • Video critiques • Self assessment and video of technique performed • Peer review • Weekly competency evaluations

7. Types of Summative Assessments • Midterm and final exams • Papers • Projects • Portfolios • Presentations • Lab Practicals • CCA

8. 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

9. 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. 

10. 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

11. 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

12. Case Studies • Assessment: • Formative & Summative • Purpose: • Foster Critical Thinking • Clinical Decision Making • Example: • Moodle Lesson • Case Studies 102 • Group Case Study • Individual Case Study

13. Self Assessments & Reflective Learning • Assessment: • Formative  • Purpose: • Assess skills • Reflect on experiences • Critically think • Apply newly learned content • Example: • Video critique • Rubric

14. Discussion Boards • Assessment: • Formative • Purpose: • Critically think • Interact with classmates • Example: • Moodle • Complications and Contraindications

15. Scholarly Paper • Assessment: • Summative • Purpose: • Critically think • Reflect on original ideas • Tie in literature • Example: • Chiropractors and Adverse Drug Events (Pharmacology paper)