Developing effective assessment strategies for online learning presents unique challenges and opportunities. In some cases, traditional assessment practices can be successfully modified for a blended or online context, whereas others are more challenging to adapt. Online platforms can also afford lecturers opportunities to employ novel formats of assessment that would be impractical in an offline setting. The resources collected on this page are intended to provide lecturers with insights and practical guidance to assist their development of a diverse range of online assessment types including tests and quizzes, student presentations, open-book examinations, and peer and authentic assessments. It also includes guides on topics such as the constructive alignment of online modules, providing effective feedback, and academic integrity.
Designing Assessments
- Constructive alignment - Learn about how you can use constructive alignment to support choices about module design and your approaches to teaching, learning and assessment
- Designing authentic assessments - Design online assessments that that focus on learners’ application of knowledge and skills, or demonstration of higher-order thinking through the completion of exemplary tasks
- Academic integrity in assessments - Strategies for promoting academic integrity and minimising student cheating in your online assessments
- Universal Design in Teaching, Learning & Assessment. This guide is an easy tool to help you make accessible resources and assessments using Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Using ePortfolios - Guide to introducing student eportfolios to your module
Assessment of Learning
- Examinations and alternatives to examinations eg Open book exams, MCQ/objective tests, oral examinations, OSCEs
- Writing effective open book examinations - Design effective open-book or ‘take away’ examinations and identify when one is an appropriate assessment choice
- Writing effective objective tests and MCQ’s - Use objective tests as tools to assess learners pre-existing skills and knowledge, gauge understanding and engage students during a class, or to aid revision before an exam
- Written assessments eg essays, reports and posters
- Practice-based assessments eg presentations, seminars, performances and practical work
- Evidence-based assessments eg portfolios, competency mapping, reflective diaries, blogs
Assessment for Learning
- Giving effective feedback - Tips on providing meaningful and actionable feedback to students in your online modules
- The power of audio/video feedback - Leverage the power of the VLE to offer feedback to students using different media
- Sample analytic rubric for Academic Paper
Assessment as Learning
- Group-based assessments eg group based products and processes
- Facilitating peer review online - Use peer review to foster reflection and involve students more deeply in the learning process
- Sample analytic rubric for Group assessment