Best Practices: Assessment

I feel like a broken record, but much of the same ways we assess students in the traditional classroom can be applied to the virtual classroom.  First, virtual teachers must ensure that they are testing their students in multiple ways (DiPietro, et al, 2008).  For example, just like in the traditional classroom, the virtual classroom should not entirely consist of multiple-choice assessments.  Teachers in both settings must mix up the assessment styles to ensure student success.

Virtual teachers must also address multiple styles of learning in their assessments (DiPietro et al., 2008).  For example, a virtual teacher interviewed for “Best Practices in Teaching K-12 Online: Lessons Learned From Michigan School Teachers” stated “I really feel that the assessments are much better online ...In an online environment you have many ways to be able to assess a student, discussion boards. I am sure you are familiar with those, is really good for students who may not be good test takers but [sic]are able to talk about what they are learning, so having them do that in a discussion board environment is a fabulous way to assess students.”

Most importantly however, is that technology allows students to present their knowledge in so many different ways.  All a virtual teacher has to do is be flexible in their assessments.  A virtual teacher stated, “If I have a project and give students the outcomes, what I need them to understand [sic] Then I can ask them ... Now, how can you do that for me, what technology could you use? I would have kids come to me and say, well, I play with Flash, can I make a Flash movie? I didn’t even know what a Flash movie was, but said sure, go for it, surprise me.“ That to me, is the single most exciting thing about assessing online.  Students have so many different avenues to express themselves and showcase their learning; it can become fun for them as well.

As you can see, the online classroom is not something that teachers should shy away from because they are scared they wouldn’t know how to run it.  Of course you would, it’s not so different from a traditional classroom.  The advantages however, are abundant and can open up many doors for students that the traditional classroom can’t provide.

Up Next: A Wrap Up: Where do we go from here?

Resources:

DiPietro, M., Ferdig, R., Black, E., & Preston, M. (n.d.). Best Practices in Teaching K-12 Online: Lessons learned from Michigan Virtual Schools. Blackboard. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from https://blackboard.cmich.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content_id=_3050188_1&course_id=_86186_1