Effective Online Instructional and Assessment Strategies

The purpose of this study was to better understand the instructional and assessment strategies that are most effective in the online learning environment. Faculty and students identified several strategies for maintaining instructional quality in the online environment, including the importance of using a variety of instructional methods to appeal to various learning styles and building an interactive and cohesive learning environment that includes group work. Online assessment strategies include having a wide variety of clearly explained assignments on a regular basis and providing meaningful and timely feedback to students regarding the quality of their work. Effective assessment techniques include projects, portfolios, self-assessments, peer evaluations, and weekly assignments with immediate feedback. The role of meaningful feedback cannot be overemphasized.

[1]  Lesley S. J. Farmer Using Technology to Facilitate Assessment of Library Education , 2005 .

[2]  L. Cronbach Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests , 1951 .

[3]  Mary K. Tallent-Runnels,et al.  Raising the bar: Encouraging high level thinking in online discussion forums , 2004 .

[4]  L. Elton,et al.  Using the online environment in assessment for learning: a case‐study of a web‐based course in primary care , 2006 .

[5]  Frances Slack,et al.  Collaboration and Teamwork: Immersion and Presence in an Online Learning Environment , 2005, Inf. Syst. Frontiers.

[6]  Geoffrey E. Mills,et al.  Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application , 1995 .

[7]  Mary K. Tallent-Runnels,et al.  Teaching Courses Online: A Review of the Research , 2006 .

[8]  Cathy Owens Swift,et al.  Retaining the Online Learner: Profile of Students in an Online MBA Program and Implications for Teaching Them , 2004 .

[9]  Robert F. Testa,et al.  Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application , 1979 .

[10]  J. Nunnally Psychometric Theory (2nd ed), New York: McGraw-Hill. , 1978 .

[11]  Jan Chappuis,et al.  Using Student-Involved Classroom Assessment to Close Achievement Gaps , 2005 .

[12]  Xin Liang,et al.  Classroom Assessment in Web-Based Instructional Environment: Instructors’ Experience , 2004 .

[13]  Marcel Robles,et al.  Online Assessment Techniques , 2002 .

[14]  Gregory MacKinnon Practical Advice for First Time Online Instructors: A Qualitative Study. , 2002 .

[15]  Mercedes S. Tichenor,et al.  A Teacher's Guide to Alternative Assessment: Taking the First Steps , 2004 .