Evaluating Students in Distance Education

As discussed in a previous post, distance education comes with unique challenges that differentiate it from traditional learning models. One such case is evaluation, as it can be harder to get an accurate picture of the learners’ actual capabilities. Let’s look at a few best practices that you can apply as an instructional designer:

• Keep assessment aligned with measurable learning outcomes
• Use a mixture of various methods to evaluate different skills
• Utilize assignments prioritizing application of skills (e.g. presentation assignments, reflective journals, group activities etc.)
• Encourage students to collaborate and socialize (Through discussion forums, collaborative assignments, peer assessment, etc.)

Next, let’s look at what criteria you can use to evaluate students:

• Class participation (being active in the classroom, beyond just attending) in synchronous sessions
• Engagement with the course material and with other students
• Collaboration skills
• Self-learning skills
• Time management skills
• Academic integrity

What’s important is that distance education can require a different set of skills, so make sure your students are acquainted with what they need.