MHC student taking notes

Assessing Student Learning

Assessments are the activities students complete or perform to show their attained knowledge or skill. It is are much more than grading and test scores. The purpose of assessments is to demonstrate learning, evaluate performance, feedback for success, and source for motivation.

Formative VS Summative Assessments

Formative Assessments are evaluations of a student’s learning progression in the course. These help students to learn and practice. Some examples of this include module quizzes, in-class discussions, and surveys. Summative Assessments are evaluations of a student’s learning at the end of the course. Some examples of this include final exams and final projects such as reports or presentations.

Authentic Assessment

Authentic assessment is where students apply their acquired knowledge and skills to a real-life situation or environment. Assessments are authentic if they are realistic, and assess students’ ability to problem solve and think critically to complete a task. Authentic learning and assessment tasks are typically, but not exclusively, set in experiential learning or work-integrated contexts.

Using Multiple Forms of Assessment

Consider implementing multiple forms of assessment in your course such as tests, projects, and discussions. Varying the kinds of assessments may accommodate the different learning styles of your students and provide more opportunities to synthesize the course content.

Academic Integrity in Assessments

Academic integrity is the moral code of academia and can be defined as the use, generation, and communication of information in an ethical, honest, and responsible manner. Student academic integrity violations include cheating, fabrication of information, facilitating academic misconduct, as well as intentional and unintentional plagiarism. Plan your assessments to mitigate issues and implement strategies to promote academic integrity.

Common Questions

What types of assessments would you recommend that are not traditional exams?

There are a number of alternatives that you could consider over a traditional exam if appropriate for your course. Below are some links to articles that offer possible alternatives.

Please contact us if you would like assistance in finding a solution.

Rene Hemenway
Instructional Designer
rhemenway@mhc.ab.ca

How much time will students need per multiple choice question?

When deciding how much time to allow for an online multiple-choice exam you need to consider the length of your exam questions and the complexity or difficulty of your questions. A common estimate for multiple-choice questions is approximately 60 seconds (1 minute) per question.

UofA – Assessment FAQ

Further Resources

Contact Info

Rene Hemenway


Instructional Designer

(403) 502-8438
rhemenway@mhc.ab.ca