Ten Key Qualities of Asessment Online

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Abstract

Student assessment belongs in the centre of our teaching and learning considerations—it is the engine that drives and shapes student learning. In online contexts, it is argued that although teaching and learning has been dramatically reconceptualised, assessment practices are lagging, and more likely to imitate conventional practices such as end of term exams that encourage rote learning and the dissemination of fixed content. The authors argue that it is essential for online educators to bring the same innovation to their assessment practices that they have to their other online teaching practices. Ten key qualities of good online assessment are offered for consideration and discussion, namely: 1. A clear rationale and consistent pedagogical approach 2. Explicit values, aims, criteria, and standards 3. Relevant authentic and holistic tasks 4. Awareness of students’ learning contexts and perceptions 5. Sufficient and timely formative feedback 6. A facilitative degree of structure 7. Appropriate volume of assessment 8. Valid and reliable 9. Certifiable as students’ own work 10. Subject to continuous improvement via evaluation and quality enhancement