Online Assessments

Description:

Online assessment provides opportunities for greater individualization in assessment of student work as traditional assessments such as exams and quizzes are difficult to proctor online. One example of a good online assessment is a portfolio of student work.

Assignment:

View the attached Slideshare Slideshow on online assessment and respond to the discussion forum posting and the postings of at least three others. http://www.slideshare.net/bakerjudy/academic-integrity-in-online-courses

Be sure to review the Discussion Posting rubric in the Assessment Folder of Module 3.

Discussion forum prompt: Identify the major issues with online assessment and describe online assessments that promote differentiation and online integrity. Respond to at least three other's postings.

My Work:

According to the Slideshare, “Academic Integrity in Online Courses”, 2004, academic dishonesty in an online class is no more pervasive than in the face-to-face setting. Because of the distance created by the online environment, students can get away with being “less than” honest. Students create excuses and alibis by intentionally submitting a corrupted file or an attachment that cannot be opened or faking technical difficulties during online tests, changing the computer’s clock to send email late but have an earlier date and time.

But, as clever as these methods of deception might be, there are many advantages of online assessment. There are electronic records of all correspondence in online courses. There are several sites, such as TurnItIn.com that detect plagiarism. But having students take traditional tests online would mean that there is no way to guarantee that students will do so without the unauthorized use of resources.

Although there are some ways to enhance online assessment integrity with high-tech solutions (think scanners and cameras), pedagogical solutions that promote differentiation are a better way to preserve assessment integrity online.

Online work and tests should be due frequently. Assignments should build sequentially on previously submitted work. The discussion board (as we all know!) is a great way to promote learning by explaining our own thoughts and through the perspectives of others. Assignments should, as often as possible, relate the subject matter to the students’ life experiences.

Online learning should be designed using multiple methods of measuring performance, mastery and skill. Projects such as creating web sites, case studies, research projects, and creating portfolios give students opportunities to demonstrate their higher-level thinking in meaningful ways.

My Scenario:

To maintain assessment integrity, the assessments in this class will be based on participation in class discussion board, cooperation and participation in group projects, timely completion of assignments, and written literary reflections. As the instructor of this class, I want to know that my students are able to analyze and respond to the literature and demonstrate 21st century skills such as working cooperatively in groups and communicating effectively.