Creative ways to test online knowledge: 4 ideas!

Testing knowledge with e-learning

Online teaching and testing knowledge go hand in hand. After all, exams are a well-known form of assessment used to measure learning outcomes. When it comes to online education, specific assessment methods are often integrated into e-learning. However, research suggests it is questionable whether exams truly test what we want them to test.

The way testing is currently conducted is often paradoxical compared to the demands of a professional's daily life. For many skills and types of knowledge, it is not necessary to have them ready at a moment's notice within ninety minutes, without any resources available.

In the workplace, for example, you often have access to a colleague you can ask questions. Or to the internet, to look up a formula. Furthermore, in real life, you would simply use a calculator to perform a calculation.

It is therefore a bit strange that we expect students to have knowledge ready without any assistance. E-learning, where the learning process takes place digitally, is progressive. It is based on a high level of trust in the learners, as they are given the freedom to decide where and when they engage with the material. This flexibility allows learners to connect theory to practice more easily.

Because students are in their familiar environment, they are more likely to relate the theory from the e-learning to everyday matters. This helps them form associations and makes it easier to recall the material. Pieces of the puzzle suddenly fall into place, which we often call an 'aha moment'.

Unfortunately, these experiences are difficult to 'capture' in traditional assessment formats. In e-learning, the quality of assessment is more important than the quantity. Additionally, testing knowledge is a good guideline for identifying missing knowledge and skills, allowing you to adjust or adapt the e-learning so that the missing information can still be provided to the student.

To ensure you have the knowledge to turn digital testing into an unforgettable experience, this blog highlights a number of 'out-of-the-box' ways to test knowledge online.

Also read: 8 refreshing tips for online teaching!

4 ways to create an online test, with a twist

1. Simulations of real work scenarios

Simulations are an effective way to test practical and experiential knowledge. Unlike traditional exams, assessment through simulation allows students to test skills and use resources in a safe, virtual environment.

To achieve the best results, it is important that the simulation is as realistic a reflection of reality as possible. The more realistic the virtual environment, the greater the chance that the simulation accurately reflects how the student would perform in a real work situation. Furthermore, it challenges the student to apply their entire frame of reference regarding knowledge and skills to the simulation.

Are you considering creating a 'static' online quiz? Don't do it—bring some life into it!

2. Online group projects

As we described in previous blogs, the experience of connection during learning is essential for success. Although e-learning is carried out individually, it is certainly possible to implement group elements. For example, students can discuss the learning material with each other and demonstrate that they are actively participating.

But it is also possible to work on projects together. For instance, students can create a presentation as a team. This can be done in a fairly traditional way, such as with PowerPoint, but you could also consider recording and editing a video to which all group members contribute.

This also creates a greater sense of connection because everyone is visible 'live' on the video.

Additionally, it is valuable to integrate a feedback element into the group assignment.

• Was there a group member who stood out because of their contribution?
• What are their strengths?
• Where could they still improve?

To ensure this process runs smoothly, clear guidelines for providing this feedback are essential.

Are you looking for a platform to help you realize these types of group projects? Then take a look at the benefits of Pluvo: our online learning environment.

3. Online forums and discussions

One of the most effective ways to 'measure' quality learning in e-learning is by monitoring the contributions students make to online forums and/or discussions. The e-learning coordinator or instructor can encourage students to provide relevant input by initiating the discussion.

This can be done, for example, by throwing a controversial statement into the group, or by introducing a problem that the students must solve together.

The coordinator monitors the contributions of all students, paying attention to depth, quality, demonstrated knowledge and skills, and quantity (how active someone is on the forum). This can be done in a quantitative way (the number of posts and comments a student makes) and/or in a qualitative way (for example, by linking an assessment framework to participation, where learning objectives can be checked off once they have been demonstrated in the participation).

Processing feedback is also an important skill that students can demonstrate through discussions and forums. If someone else in the group responds to their statements or contributions and they subsequently integrate this feedback into their contribution during the rest of the discussion, it demonstrates that the student is open to feedback and incorporates it into their learning and work process.

4. Problem-solving through case studies

Take a realistic situation that the student might encounter in their daily work. The easiest way is to use a scenario that actually happened in the past. This way, you can leave out the solution to the scenario and let the student fill it in.

For example, was there a customer who had a complaint? Describe the complaint and the circumstances, and then have the student describe their approach, focusing on applying and describing their knowledge and skills (whether or not acquired through e-learning). It is particularly relevant for the student to describe their thought process, clearly showing how they arrived at the solution/approach.

As you can see, this method of digital assessment goes much deeper than simply throwing together a multiple-choice test. After all, if you let your students choose from a list of possible answers, you will never find out how they arrived at that answer.

Conclusion on digital assessment

The methods described above for assessing knowledge and skills during e-learning are just a small selection of the many possibilities. These practical and in-depth ways of assessing knowledge and skills allow not only educators or schools, but also companies, to gain qualitative insight into the learning processes of their employees. Based on this insight, they can even adjust these learning processes where necessary!

But how do you achieve a good assessment result? That all starts, of course, with the didactic and technical choices you make. In the next blog, Nico explains how you can encourage your students to use effective learning strategies, for maximum learning efficiency.