Side view portrait of young schoolgirl using laptop during IT class
Assessments are a vital part of any education process, as they allow learners to put what they know to the test, and allow educators to identify any knowledge gaps that need to be bridged. They are at their most effective when results are available quickly or, even better, straight away. Online assessment software offers this functionality, allowing both the learner and educator to find out their results as soon as an assessment has been submitted.
A robust digital assessment solution will allow educators to design assessments that are engaging and highly customizable while offering feedback to learners that is authentic and relevant. The aim of any assessment should be to show a student where their weaknesses are, and give them the tools to correct their mistakes.
Here are four ways that online assessment tools help to support faster student feedback.
A traditional paper and pen assessment does not have a quick feedback process. Once students hand in their assignments, the educators will typically have to mark and grade each one by hand. Not only is this time consuming for staff, but it also means that there is a delay before learners can get their feedback. This means that once they do receive their grades, the material is less fresh in their minds than when they first completed it, and potential learning opportunities may be lost.
Meanwhile, assessment software can provide students with feedback in real-time. Functionality such as online polls, quizzes, and surveys all provide results instantly so that students are able to quickly spot and learn from their mistakes. Class discussion forums are another great tool, allowing students to see any feedback from their assessments as they are uploaded by their educators.
For assessments that use questions like multiple choice or matching, automated scoring allows students to get their results as soon as they complete a test, while also cutting down on administrative work for staff. A robust assessment tool will also allow students to go back through their answers and see where they went wrong, offering an opportunity to learn.
Online solutions also allow for real-time scoring in ungraded formative assessments. In this situation, dialogue boxes with information can pop up when a question is answered incorrectly, helping learners find gaps in their knowledge and plug them in the process.
Online assessment platforms also allow educators to include scoring rubrics for open-ended questions that require Human or “manual” marking. This ensures that students understand what is expected of them, and which criteria they need to hit in order to get the best grade possible.
Big data is changing the way every sector operates, and education is no different. If data is streamlined across different platforms, this allows educators to get a more complete picture of their students than ever before. Interoperability is key here, by utilizing assessment software that is interoperable with your entire EdTech stack, you will have access to data that gives a clearer picture of the “whole student.” This can be absolutely invaluable when trying to validate student outcomes, locate knowledge gaps in individual students, or even entire classes.
Let’s say that a student is having difficulty with module two of your course. If this is an isolated incident, you can simply spend more time with that student making sure that they understand it fully before their final assessment. The data also allows you to check if this is related to any other knowledge gaps they may have. It may be that they struggle with a certain type of assignment or certain tangentially related topics.
However, if you then spot that most of the class is struggling with module two, you can adjust your lesson plans accordingly, and go over the material again ensuring that everyone in the class is confident in their knowledge before moving on.
Today’s young learners are digital natives. They have grown up with technology, and are comfortable doing just about anything online. This includes taking tests and getting their answers on a digital device. Not only this, but younger learners are much more impatient than prior generations. They have grown up in an era where anything they need is accessible after a few taps on a smartphone, or keystrokes on a keyboard. The idea that they might have to wait a few days to find out information is anathema to Gen Z.
Online assessment tools can be a huge help in this regard. They allow students to get feedback on assignments instantly, be provided with detailed feedback at the click of a button, and more. While paper and pen assessments still have their place in some scenarios, the younger generation is much more engaged with a digital-first approach to learning.
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Get in touch with a member of our Solutions team today to learn more about how the TAO assessment platform and scoring tools allow educators to track students through the entire assessment cycle and drive better learning outcomes.