Online assessment
Resources
The University of South Australia, like other universities internationally, has embraced the used of web-based technology to enhance its teaching and learning environment. The benefits that web-based technology brings to teaching and learning are also extended to assessment practices. Online assessment is much more than computer-assisted testing of knowledge. It expands the diversity of assessment processes through which students can develop and demonstrate a range of skills, knowledge and understanding.
Context
UniSAnet, the University's online teaching and learning platform, incorporates a range of tools which can be used to implement assessment strategies that are:
- Student engagement - where assessment tasks reflect the student experience (eg. online role plays, virtual simulations), offer a choice of assessment tasks (eg. online discussion, online problem solving, online group project) and encourage students to take responsibility for their learning (eg. feedback through formative assessment; self-assessment, peer assessment).
- Flexibly delivered - where students can participate in assessment tasks regardless of time or place.
- Informed by the Graduate Qualities - where assessment is measured against a broad range of skills identified by your specific course objectives.
From 2010-2011, UniSA will be moving to a new online environment that will significantly expand the online assessment options available.
Tools that support online assessment
Online tools can be used for a number of assessment purposes at different levels, ranging from the management of assessment information to electronic delivery of tests. To achieve this, the assessment strategy for your individual course, or for the core courses across a program, need to be considered. Some useful questions to ask yourself when doing this are:
- What do I want my students to learn? This is closely linked to your course objectives and the graduate quality profile specified for your course
- What opportunities can I provide for them to practise this learning online?
- What assessment tasks will I set so that students can demonstrate their learning online?
- What method of online assessment will I use, self-assessment, peer-assessment, objective assessment or group assessment?
The tools available on UniSAnet can be used to develop a number of different assessment tasks that measure a variety of graduate qualities as well as support the assessment tasks you put in place for your students.
Within the new environment it is possible for all student interaction to be assessed (e.g individual posts to discussion forum, online tests and assignments).
Benefits
Why would you change your current practice?
- More frequent formative and summative assessment possible
- Assess large classes
- Spend less time marking when students peer assess each other
- Student self-assessment with immediate feedback
- Save staff time
- Greater student satisfaction through increased confidence and rapid results
Issues
- Extensive use of objective testing can result in shallow learning by students – they could guess answers
- The creation of question banks involve a fair amount of work by academic or other nominated staff
- Security issues – who is doing the test?
- Some students may not have access to a computer or an internet connection
- Some students may have outdated hard and software and slow connections which impede their participation in the assessment task