This course focuses on developing the skills necessary to become effective assessors of adult learners. Students learn the fundamentals of traditional testing and explore how to design alternative assessments in an electronic environment. Interpretation of assessment data, strategies for tracking student progress, and communication of results based on clear criteria and standards will be presented. Critical assessment issues facing distance education programs will be analyzed and debated.

Role and Methods of Assessment/Evaluation

• Understand the application of assessment and evaluation in adult learning settings.
• Examine the role of assessment and evaluation in adult education.
• Identify effective assessment and evaluation methods for adult learners and distance education settings.
• Analyze the purpose of assessment and evaluation.

Criteria and Standards for Assessment

• Evaluate assessment for alignment with criteria and standards.
• Develop criteria and standards for assessment.

Alternative Assessment

• Examine alternative assessment techniques and instruments and their relevance to distance education.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate an alternative assessment instrument.

Standardized Assessment

• Examine standardized learning style assessments and their relevancy to distance education.

Reliability and Validity

• Analyze the concepts of reliability and validity and their importance in assessment and evaluation.

Grading

• Identify fair and effective grading practices in distance education.

Reporting Assessment Results

• Compare and contrast procedures for reporting assessment results.

Current Trends in Assessment

• Identify and analyze effective assessment methods for distance education environments