Assessment Strategies Flashcards

When designing a timed online exam, which approach best balances security with accessibility?

Answer: Set time limits based on pilot testing while offering documented accommodations for extended time

Evidence-based time limits combined with accommodation policies ensure both assessment integrity and equitable access for all learners.

Which practice most effectively reduces test-taking advantages gained from question sharing in online courses?

Answer: Using large randomized question banks and randomizing answer order

Large question banks with randomized item and answer ordering make it impractical for students to share or memorize specific test content.

A student's portfolio shows strong growth from the beginning to the end of the course, but their final exam score is low. How should an online educator interpret this?

Answer: Multiple data points together provide a more complete picture of student learning than any single measure

Using multiple assessment measures gives educators a more holistic and accurate view of student learning than relying on a single assessment type.

Which of the following is the best example of spaced retrieval practice used as a formative assessment strategy?

Answer: Brief weekly quizzes revisiting concepts from earlier modules

Spaced retrieval practice involves revisiting previously learned material at intervals, which strengthens long-term retention and reveals gaps in understanding.

An online educator wants to assess collaboration skills in a group project. Which strategy most directly measures this skill?

Answer: Having students complete a self and peer evaluation rubric focused on collaborative behaviors

Self and peer evaluation rubrics focused on collaborative behaviors directly assess how students work together, not just the quality of the end product.

What does 'washback effect' mean in the context of assessment design?

Answer: The influence that an assessment has on how instructors teach and students study

Washback (or backwash) refers to the impact that assessments have on teaching and learning behaviors, which can be positive or negative.

Which element is most critical when writing selected-response (multiple-choice) questions for an online assessment?

Answer: Ensuring all distractors are plausible but clearly incorrect upon careful reading

Effective distractors represent common misconceptions and require students to genuinely know the content to distinguish correct from incorrect options.