by Distance Learning

Assessment: Is Distance Different?

   /   
Conducting assessment when your students are at a distance may pose a number of challenges.

Not least of these is providing the variety of forms of assessment that is necessary to adequately assess the knowledge, skills, and attributes being developed by your students. In a distance setting, the underlying principles of good assessment do not change, but in particular for distance students you should:

  • ensure that assessment is closely related to learning outcomes stated in the Course Administration Guide/Outline
  • state assessment requirements clearly to eliminate uncertainty and questions
  • consider whether assessment is linked to the student’s workplace
  • pay extra attention to providing PROMPT feedback.

A standout text for those interested in more detailed knowledge of assessment at a distance is Assessing Open and Distance Learners by Chris Morgan and Meg O’Reilly (Kogan Page, London, 1999). A more recent chapter by these two, ‘Ten key qualities of assessment online’, can be found in Online assessment and measurement: Foundations and challenges edited by Mary Hricko and Scott L. Howell, Information Science Publishing, Hershey, PA, 2006 (LB 1028.3 OK53).

The University has a policy on assessment and a set of guidelines.

It is important that assessment in your papers and programmes adheres to the University policy and guidelines.

In addition, your Division and/or department may have developed some particular practices that are built on the University policy. You need to find out about those practices from your HoD.

People at the University of Otago who may be able to help with information about assessment include:

The Examinations Office can be contacted at:

Tel 64 3 479 9054
Email examinations@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/study/exams/

Higher Education Development Centre (HEDC):

Associate Professor Ben Daniel
Email ben.daniel@otago.ac.nz

ITS

ITS's eLearning consultants can give you help and advice about setting up assessments using Blackboard, and also the use of Turnitin.

Contact: AskOtago

Health Sciences Division

If you are part of the Health Sciences Division that uses Moodle, there are eLearning Facilitators on each of the main campuses who can give you advice and guidance about making use of the facilities in Moodle to assess your students. This includes the use of Turnitin.