The Need For Effectively Assessing Online Learners
The world has changed so much due to technology, but some of the methods of assessing online learners are stuck in the past. Although online learning is almost everywhere in our lives, from taking eLearning courses and training at work to learning a new language through an app or watching educational videos on social media, why do instructors still assess online learners the way they did years ago?
The problem with traditional assessments is that they’re mostly all about right or wrong answers and even have time limits. This doesn’t align with the online learning experience, where students might be learning at different paces, in various time zones, and while having their own responsibilities (full-time jobs, kids, hobbies, personal lives). Yet, it’s common to test their progress based on tests that were designed with in-person learning in mind. This is because it’s the easy way. Traditional tests can be graded quickly, and multiple-choice questions are checked through automated systems.
However, online learners need to be self-directed, tech-savvy, and able to apply their knowledge practically. A quiz or final exam doesn’t help with that. Sure, a multiple-choice test might tell you that a student remembers a few key definitions. But can it show you if they know how to think critically or collaborate with their peers? Probably not. After all, the truth is that many online learners take these courses because they want to gain real-world, applicable skills. So, what can you do? As an instructor, you need to find ways of assessing online learners that are as flexible as the online courses themselves. This aspect of eLearning is in desperate need of change, so let’s explore how you can design more meaningful tests for assessing online learners.
X Ways To Create Meaningful Online Learning Assessments
1. Recognize Diversity
Online learners have diverse backgrounds, learning paces, and resources. Some students are juggling jobs, families, and hobbies, while others might be working on older equipment. Not to mention that some have different learning preferences, like virtual content or hands-on activities. Assessing all these learners in the same way does not reflect their capabilities and progress. What you can do is go for personalized assessments. These include adaptive quizzes that adjust the difficulty based on student responses or assignment options to choose what fits them better.
2. Formative Over Summative Assessments
Summative assessments are performed at the end of the courses to show everything the student has learned. Formative assessments, on the other hand, are performed along the way. They’re quizzes, assignments, and even peer reviews that tell you and your learners how they’re doing. Why is a formative assessment preferable for online learners? With ongoing formative assessments, like weekly quizzes, discussion posts, or feedback sessions, you get the chance to check in regularly. You see who understands the content and who is struggling. Plus, online students can review feedback at their own pace, ask questions, and actually engage with the material instead of reviewing everything at the end when it’s too late to fix errors and performance.
3. Practical Assessments
If the goal is to prepare students for the real world, then project-based assessments are exactly what you need because they actually reflect what they’ll be doing. What do they look like? Practical assessments can be case studies, simulations, and practical projects. For example, if you’re teaching a business class, have learners create a mini business plan. These kinds of assignments are not only more fun but actually show you what students can do with the knowledge they’ve gained.
4. Use Technology
Technology is your friend, so don’t hesitate to use it to find innovative assessment tools. For instance, you can add some video assessments. These involve asking students to record presentations or submit a quick video explaining a concept. Video assessments allow learners to showcase their knowledge and personality, and it’s much more engaging than quizzes and exams. Then there are interactive polls and quizzes. These give you instant feedback on who’s paying attention and who’s not, and students can answer questions without the pressure of a big test. Lastly, consider AI-powered assessment platforms that adapt to each student’s level, adjusting question difficulty based on their performance.
5. Competency-Based Assessments
Competency-based assessments make learning all about what students can actually do, so the skills are the main focus, not memorizing facts and dates and obsessing over grades. How this works is students progress through content at their own pace, moving forward only when they’ve genuinely mastered the skill or knowledge. Online platforms can assess these competencies as students complete tasks, projects, or simulations that are based on real-world scenarios. The best part is that competency-based assessments value true learning over temporary results. It’s no longer just about having good grades but about building skills that last.
6. Self-Assessments
When students get involved in self-assessment, they develop their critical thinking skills and learning accountability. This is because they know best how they process and store information. For instance, you can give students a journal and have them grade their own projects. This will allow them to notice their strengths and pinpoint their mistakes. This isn’t just helpful for learning content; it’s the perfect training for a skill they’ll use their whole lives. Peer feedback works similarly, as when learners see what others think of their efforts, they gain insights and a new perspective.
7. Frequent Feedback
Feedback is key when assessing online learners. Why? Because, unlike in-person classes, in online education students aren’t sitting right in front of their instructors. So, without consistent feedback, they’re left guessing how they’re performing. Thus, you should give them regular feedback, but make it specific and timely. Instead of telling them “Good job,” for example, explain what they did right or what they should improve. Try something like, “Great job on collaborating on the group project, but try participating more in discussions.” Most importantly, make sure every comment is made in a timely manner, not when it’s too late.
8. Collaborative Assessments
Collaborative assessments are those group projects, discussion forums, and even peer assessments you hear about. These are the perfect ways to assess how well students work as a team, communicate under pressure, and problem-solve collectively. However, group work doesn’t always go smoothly. To keep problems at bay, set clear expectations. Make it obvious that teamwork, communication, and actual contribution matter. Encourage regular check-ins, whether that’s through group chats or progress reports. That way, no one slacks or lets the others do the hard work. You can also encourage peer evaluations that assess how each person contributed to further engage students.
Conclusion
It’s time for educators to rethink how they are assessing online learners. Traditional methods like multiple-choice tests and final exams don’t fit in an online setting. Instead, embracing more engaging and interactive assessments can lead to better learning outcomes. Think about project-based tasks, where students can demonstrate real-world skills or peer feedback to encourage collaboration. By figuring out modern and fresh ways of assessing online learners, you create a personalized and relevant learning experience where students are more motivated and invested in their learning.
