How do you evaluate the validity and reliability of your online assessments?

How do you know where you are going if you have not set a destination? This is why you need learning objectives; however, stay away from non-instructional approaches like SMART (this is for personal goals). Why not SMART? Objectives are not always time-bound. Learning objectives need to have a global as well as an specific component. Audience = Customer Service Reps Behavior = Document call Condition = Watching videos, following instructions, software simulations. Degree = Meeting all call spec requirements, with at least 95% accuracy aka whatever the business needs Without the proper objective structure, your assessments cannot be validated using Bloom's Taxonomy.

While defining clear and measurable learning objectives is important, having and end to end alignment in the program between learning objectives, content and assessment is crucial. For the programs where higher level of Blooms taxonomy is being achieved, simple quizzes don't bring much alignment. For such programs you need to create rubrics that are aligned with learning objectives. These assessment rubrics make the process much more transparent, logical and goal oriented for online assessments. The rubric should clearly reflect the following: 1. Which learning objective a particular question is aligned with? 2. What structure is expected from the participants? 3. What is the specific number or length that needs to be covered.

Some may think that this step is not important or missing the point, when in fact without this step you cannot assess at all, because you don't know what you are assessing. When working with subject matter experts, I like to ask them what can students now do in the real world that they couldn't before? And once we know what they can now do, then we can create a meaningful assessment that matches their new abilities.

How do you evaluate the validity and reliability of your online assessments? Validity can be evaluated by reviewing the questions and aligning them with the current and best practices. By creating a question bank with some questions from each segment of course and pushing it to the learners will ensure that these questions are reliable covering every aspect. No two people will have exactly the same questions. Have simple and standardised grading system. Periodic review and required ammendments of assessment questions will ensure reliability. Data analysis is required for continuous improvement. #emiratesairlines #riyadhair #starair #learninganddevelopment #instructionaldesign

Learning objectives are the bedrock of a learner-centric online learning course. Here are a few tips to craft SMART learning objectives: 1. Define what you want your learners to achieve by the end of the course. 2. Understand the characteristics and needs of your target audience. 3. Utilize Bloom's Taxonomy to guide the creation of learning objectives. 4. Ensure that the learning objectives align with the course content. 5. Review the learning objectives to ensure they are comprehensive, coherent, and logically sequenced.

There are traditional forms of assessment, and there are authentic ones. Learners are more intrinsically motivated with authentic people, assessments, and feedback so it makes sense to bring in or explicitly connect what you're learning/assessing with the real world.

Consider the variety of assessment types available and select those best suited to your learning objectives. Whether it's multiple-choice quizzes, case studies, simulations, or performance assessments, each type offers unique advantages and challenges. Choose assessments that not only assess knowledge retention but also evaluate higher-order thinking skills and real-world application.

Bloom's Taxonomy can help choose appropriate assessment types. Understanding or Remembering verbs in your learning objectives may lend themselves to quizzes or exams. Applying or Creating verbs suggest that a simulation or project would be best to evaluate those skills. Most importantly, make sure you have a way to assess every Terminal Learning Objective and not to include assessments which don't contribute to them. Activities that don't contribute to the learners goals will be frustrating and may undercut the credibility of your initiative overall.

Selecting the right assessment type is crucial for evaluating students effectively. Consider whether quizzes, essays, projects, or discussions best match your learning objectives. For example, use quizzes for factual recall and essays for critical thinking. Mixing various assessment types can also provide a more comprehensive evaluation of student understanding, improving reliability. Ensure that the chosen assessments reflect the depth and complexity of the learning objectives.

Formative assessments are essential for keeping learners engaged and on track. These ongoing assessments, such as interactive quizzes, peer feedback, and self-reflections, allow learners to practice and receive real-time guidance. Summative assessments help in evaluating if learners have truly mastered the material. Every assessment should provide a wealth of information. Use adaptive quizzes that adjust based on learner responses and track their progress over time. Analyze discussion forums to gain insights into their critical thinking skills. Even a simple survey can provide valuable feedback on their satisfaction and engagement.

Crafting practical assessment items is vital to evaluating learner understanding and progress. Ensure each item aligns with specific learning objectives, covering a spectrum of cognitive skills from basic recall to critical evaluation. Use straightforward language to avoid confusion and culturally inclusive content to respect diversity. Variety in question types can also enrich assessments, challenging learners to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in different contexts. This approach guarantees fairness and relevance, facilitating a comprehensive evaluation of learning outcomes.

Craft clear, concise, and unambiguous questions or tasks that directly assess the intended learning outcomes. Pay close attention to the wording, avoiding ambiguity or bias that could influence responses. Additionally, ensure that assessment items are aligned with the level of cognitive complexity expected from learners.

In order to create quality assessment items, it is important to keep questions or simulations clear and concise. While the learner should feel challenged, it is not effective to confuse them. Assessment items should be related to the learning objectives and the content presented, being sure to avoid adding unnecessary "fluff" for the sake of quantity.

Crafting well-designed assessment items is key to ensuring validity and reliability. Write questions that are clear, concise, and free from ambiguity. Avoid tricky wording that could confuse students and instead focus on assessing their true understanding. Use a variety of question types to challenge different levels of cognition. Regularly review and update your assessment items to align them with current content and learning objectives.

It is crucial to use specific and unambiguous language that clearly instructs the learners on what they need to do. Avoid using vague or open-ended prompts that leave them puzzled. Your assessment items should also be relevant and aligned with your learning objectives. Avoid using stereotypical examples or language that disadvantages certain learners. Your assessment items should push learners to their limits, testing their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Avoid using multiple-choice questions with obvious answers. Instead, create scenarios that require them to apply their knowledge in new and unexpected ways. Introduce some complexity and ambiguity to truly separate the exceptional from the average.

In my experience, as much as some dislike rubrics, they are essential to assessing work. Even subjective tasks can demonstrate exceptional written and oral communication, integrity and scholarship, cultural competency, or emotional intelligence. When there are clear criteria and expectations, learners can use rubrics not only to perform in a certain way, but also to look back and have proof that they accomplished specific objectives.

**Ask Yourself** Are Your Online Assessments Crystal Clear? Rubrics & criteria can be your secret weapon! Do your assessments: ??Clearly outline expectations? A rubric can detail performance levels. ??Offer consistent grading? Criteria ensure fairness & objectivity. ????????♂?Empower your learners! Share rubrics upfront so they understand what success looks like. #InstructionalDesign #Assessment

Rubrics provide a structured framework for evaluating learner performance and providing constructive feedback. Develop clear assessment criteria and rubrics that outline performance expectations and standards. This allows for consistent and objective evaluation, enhancing the validity and reliability of assessments. Consider incorporating both quantitative and qualitative criteria to capture the full spectrum of learner achievements.

Rubrics serve as organized scoring guides that outline specific assessment criteria and performance levels. They provide clear expectations for what constitutes successful completion of a task or achievement of learning objectives. Rubrics typically include descriptors for different levels of performance. Criteria, on the other hand, are the specific standards or benchmarks used within rubrics to assess learner performance. These criteria articulate the qualities, skills, or knowledge that learners are expected to demonstrate. They serve as the basis for evaluating if learning objectives have been met. Together, rubrics and criteria ensure that assessment processes are transparent, consistent, and aligned with instructional goals.

When training Trainers it can be a challenge to overcome, but it's important to instill that 'We don't grade on vibes.' Different evaluator's opinions may factor into the evaluation of an assessment, but a carefully crafted rubric with clear guidelines defining success or failure will keep bias to a minimum.

Pilot testing online assessments are crucial for ensuring their effectiveness. By administering tests to a small, representative group, you gather insights into potential issues, from unclear questions to technical glitches. This feedback loop allows for the refinement of assessments, enhancing their relevance and accuracy. Analyzing data on learner performance and feedback improves the quality of questions and ensures the assessments are fair and accessible to all. Adjustments based on this feedback are essential for creating reliable and valid assessment tools.

Before deploying assessments to a wider audience, conduct pilot testing to identify any potential issues or ambiguities. Gather feedback from a diverse group of learners and subject matter experts to ensure that assessments are valid, reliable, and fair. Review assessment items for clarity, relevance, and alignment with learning objectives, making necessary revisions based on feedback.

Pilot testing your online assessments before full implementation helps identify any potential issues with validity and reliability. Gather feedback from a small group of students or colleagues to spot confusing questions, technical glitches, or misaligned content. Use this feedback to refine and improve the assessments. Regularly reviewing and revising your assessments ensures they remain effective and aligned with learning objectives.

It's crucial to include a wide range of individuals, from top performers to struggling learners, to truly understand how your assessments will fare in the real world. And don't overlook the significance of thorough data collection. Simply gathering a few comments won't cut it. You must analyze responses, scores, and time metrics extensively to identify any issues or areas for improvement. Moreover, it's essential to be receptive to feedback from your pilot testers. They will be the ones using your assessments, so their input is invaluable. Be prepared to make necessary adjustments based on their suggestions to enhance the validity and reliability of your assessments.

Once assessments are in use, ongoing monitoring and evaluation are essential to ensure their effectiveness and relevance. Analyze assessment data to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement. Are assessments accurately measuring learning outcomes? Are learners achieving desired levels of proficiency? Use insights from assessment data to inform instructional design refinements and optimize learning experiences.

Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of your online assessments are essential for maintaining their validity and reliability. Analyze student performance data to identify trends, such as consistently missed questions or unusually high scores, which may indicate issues with the assessment. Gather student feedback to understand their experience and make necessary adjustments. Regularly updating and refining your assessments based on this data ensures they remain effective.

Regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of the assessment over time to ensure that it remains valid and reliable. Collect feedback from learners, analyze assessment results, and make revisions to the assessment as necessary to improve its quality.

- Frame questions aligned with learning objectives. Don’t ask what’s not covered in the module/course. - Strike a balance between knowledge-based and performance-based assessments. Asking questions that induce mere regurgitation of facts is no good. Include scenarios and case studies to encourage critical thinking. - Do not complicate. Frame questions in a way that is easy to understand. The level of difficulty should be adjusted to match the audience. - Cover each module/topic covered, weightage can be decided depending on the complexity of the modules. - Include a variety of questions such as fill-in-the-blanks, match the following, drag and drop, polls, and interactive quizzes to curb monotony.

Want to keep your online assessments sharp? - Built-in LMS tools: Track scores & completion rates. - Microsoft Forms: Embed surveys for post-assessment feedback. - Authoring tools: Utilize features like Storyline results slides. ?? What do you use to add your assessment to the training?