Assessment Type

Description

Formative Assessments

Discussion Posts (boards/blogs/chat)

Promote interaction through summaries and conversations on various topics.
Utilize guidelines, deadlines, and discussion forums.
Assign spokespersons in small groups for posting and responding.
Facilitate collaborative problem-solving and consensus-building.
Create threads for emphasizing interesting topics and addressing misunderstandings.
Use chat for real-time Q&A and instructor “office hours.”

Quizzes (short answer, multiple choice)

Use short, frequent quizzes to track learning progress.
Employ automated grading for multiple-choice quizzes.
Provide additional commentary for short-answer quizzes via email or LMS platforms.

Summative Assessments

Midterm/Final Exams

Ensure academic integrity through LMS mechanisms and human proctors.
Reserve computer labs in advance for proctored exams.

Projects

Include simulations, role-playing, case studies, problem-solving exercises, and group collaboration.
Facilitate peer feedback and immediate online feedback.
Allow students to pursue interests, publish findings, and present conclusions.
Use evaluation forms for self and peer assessment.

Portfolios

Showcase learning through papers, audio/video, and presentations.
Predetermine portfolio contents and use rubrics for assessment.
Incorporate peer reviews for additional learning and assessment.

Presentations

Create informational web pages, blogs, web-based quizzes, video/audio, or slide shows.

Formative and Summative Assessments

Case Studies

Use for individual or group assessment in asynchronous environments.
Assign team members specific roles for contributing and critiquing responses.
Develop cases from real-world experiences using various multimedia methods.

Experience-Based Practicum

Post experiences weekly/monthly for peer and instructor feedback.
Reflect on observations, lesson plans, and professional experiences.

Papers

Clearly state submission policies and encourage external backups.
Range from short paragraphs to full research reports.
Use blogs, forums, or dropbox for submissions.
Weekly short papers assess understanding of material.
Use “one-minute paper,” “muddiest point,” and “one-sentence summary” techniques for reflection.

Self-Assessment

Reflect on learning and skills through short, timed multiple-choice self-tests.
Use automated scoring for quick feedback.

Simulation/Animation/Virtual Lab/Game

Use lab simulations, role-playing games, and videoconferencing for science experiments.
Create games or play pre-designed roles for problem-solving.

Reflective Journal

Use individual or class blogs for reflective journaling.
Provide a format for introductions, weekly reflections, and final summaries.
Connect student blogs for peer interaction and commentary.
Use an instructor blog and aggregate tools like Google Reader for monitoring progress.