Assessment in Distance Learning

As well as in traditional learning, students in distance learning are required to take examinations, tests and/or quizzes to prove their knowledge and complete the program they have chosen to learn. However, in contrary with traditional learning where students requested to take examination and/or test in a classroom and are physically monitored and supervised by a teacher, examinations and testing knowledge of distance learning students presents a problem because monitoring and supervising is often insufficient or is completely absent. For that reason appear concerns over cheating in tests, examinations and quizzes and over credibility of their results.

To evaluate knowledge of distance learning students and to prevent eventual cheating as well as to secure their integrity and reputation some distance education institutions and organization require student to take examinations in a controlled setting. For that reason distance learning students sometimes take their examinations in prearranged location and are directly supervised by teacher or other prearranged supervisor, while those distance learning institutions which provide testing knowledge on distance prefer testing knowledge of their students with quizzes with limited time online so student can not pass if he/she is checking questions in his/her learning material.

However, besides preventing the distance learning students to cheat tests and examinations by checking answers in their learning material, problem by testing knowledge in distance learning presents also verification of authenticity of student. For that reason student portfolios, projects, postings on class forums and teacher-student audio- and videoconferences often play greater role in distance learning than the formal tests and examinations.