Overview of Online Assessment Options

This resource focuses on two common online assessment types that are fully supported in Quercus, U of T’s Learning Management System: (1) assignments and (2) online exams/quizzes. Examples of effective practices that support Academic Integrity are included throughout this resource. Importantly, as you make assessment choices for the online/remote context, be cognizant of your students’ learning context. Many are participating in online/remote courses for the first time and may not be fully prepared or equipped for this mode of delivery. With any choice of online assessment:

  • Keep in mind the technical resources and the online learning skills that students will need to succeed in your course.
  • Plan to provide extra support and scaffolding as students adjust to learning online/remotely.
  • Consider which type of technology tool might be best for the goals of your assessment.

Other forms of online assessment you might more fully explore with your Divisional educational support, teaching centres and/or colleagues in your discipline include:

  • Presentations: students (individually or in groups) submit an electronic ‘narrated presentation’ that can be assessed on the content and presentation techniques. Record their asynchronous presentations using SnagIt or present synchronous presentations via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
  • Portfolio, logbook or assessment notebook: students may submit a link to their electronic portfolios. Note that there is also an e-portfolio tool on Quercus that students can use to assemble their artifacts.
  • Assessed seminars, group discussions and other similar activities: use synchronous (live) discussion activities (e.g., Zoom or Microsoft Teams or use asynchronous (recorded) discussion activities (Quercus discussion boards).
  • Lab work: Use simulations to replicate some aspects of lab work. These can be done remotely in which students are presented with data sets (which were produced elsewhere) and required to comment on/interpret them.
  • Posters: students submit their posters in a digital format e.g., infographic, mind map, etc.