Assessments in eLearning
Tips, tricks & gyan about
effective assessment
questions
By Kern Learning Solutions

Role of Assessments
• Make learners think
• Stimulate learners’ brain
• Challenge learners to proceed
further
• Reinforce learning and increase
retention
• Boost learners ego
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Types of Assessments
(with on e correct
Multiple Choice Questions True
answer) or F
alse
Quest
ions
(with more than
Multiple Choice Questions
one correct answer)
Fill in the blanks
Games, cro
ssword, etc
Drag and Drop
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Things to Remember!
Assessment questions should be directly linked to learning objectives.
Example
Objectives Assessment Questions
Describe the criteria used to evaluate a What key features would you evaluate
pre-qualification questionnaire. when evaluating a PQQ for tender?
Describe the steps of the tendering Which of the following are the steps of
process. the tendering process?
Identify the limitations of mergers and List the limitations of mergers and
acquisitions acquisitions.
Describe the defensive strategies against Identify the defensive strategies used by
mergers and acquisitions the company against mergers and
acquisitions.
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Things to Remember!
Your course should have at least 1 exercise for each objective.
Must have min 3
Course with 3 learning
assessments mapping
objectives
to each objective
Tips
• Testing points must cover all learning
objectives
• Testing points should be from within the
course and not outside
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Things to Remember!
Remember to use the Bloom’s taxonomy while framing assessment
questions. If the objective reads ‘Identify the causes of global poverty’, the
learner has to ‘identify’ not ‘apply’ this information.
Blooms Levels Assessments - Examples
Knowledge Identify the correct description of
overdue.
Comprehension Describe the process of evaporation.
Application Calculate the profitability of a project.
Analysis Distinguish between market research
and user research.
Synthesis Choose the correct approach to solve
the problem.
Evaluation Select the most effective solution.
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Things to Remember!
Design a realistic question stem with plausible options.
Q. Vandana wants to move from Q. Vandana wants to navigate
Good Example
Poor Example
one page to another to access from one page to another to
information on a website. Allowing access information on a website.
a visitor to move from one page to What is this called?
another is called ____________. a) Next page
a) Next page b) Navigation
b) Navigation c) Main page
c) Main page d) None of the above
d) Website
This can
give away
Invalid the answer!
Poor question
distractor stem
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Things to Remember!
Always provide clear instructions about what you expect the learner to do. Else,
ensure that the affordance is good and the scent of information is strong.
Q. Drag elements in column A to Q. Match the elements of column
Good Example
Poor Example
the blank space to match the A with elements of column B.
definitions in column B.
A B A B
Ambiguous question stem;
does not say “how”
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Things to Remember!
Do not time the exercise. This only adds to the pressure. Let the adult learner
attempt the exercise in his/her own sweet time.
10 mins left…what’s the
correct answer???
Oppsss… 5 mins left…still
thinking…
Oopss…time out! I could
hardly think!!!
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Guidelines Multiple Choice Questions
• Distractors should NOT be
Q. interrelated.
• Avoid negative testing: “Which of the
following is not covered under child
psychology?”
• Avoid using “none of the above” and
“all of the above.”
• Avoid using words in the question
stem that can give away responses.
• Use plausible, realistic and consistent
distractors.
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Guidelines True and False
• Do not use definitive words such as
only, none, and always
Q. • Avoid uncertain words such as might,
can, or may. Typically, the learner ends
up choosing true.
• No negatively stated items. “Thomas
True False Jefferson did not write the Declaration
of Independence.” True or False?
• Learners tend to choose true; design
at least 60% of question to be “false”
• Use precise words rather than vague
or ambiguous language.
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Guidelines Drag and Drop
• The question stem should clearly state
Q. Drag elements in column A to
what to drag and where to drop. the blank space to match the
• Place where options can be dropped definitions in column B.
should be visible.
• Drag and drops should always have a
Reset button.
• Once options are dropped, learners A B
should be able to reposition them.
• Options should belong to the same
family.
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Interesting & Innovative
Assessments
Branching Assessments -> Decision Trees
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Interesting & Innovative
Assessments
Scenario-based Questions -> Analytical Questions
Scenario
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Interesting & Innovative
Assessments
Multi-level Assessment
Questions
If learner solves
this, move to
level 2
If learner solves
this, move to
level 3
Q1
Q2
Q3
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Interesting & Innovative
Assessments
Assessments about steps &
procedures
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Be
Dramatic
Game-like interfaces can
make simple MCQs
interesting.
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Be
Dramatic
Liven up your boring score
sheets with a touch of drama!
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Be Visual
Make your practice
questions more visual.
They revive attention and
enhance retention.
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Kern Learning Solutions
These are only tips and not rigid rules. We encourage instructional designers to be
innovative. If you have any tips that you wish to share, feel free to do so.
What do we do?
 Assessment Centers
 Instructional Design 210 B Swapnalok Complex
SD Road, Secunderabad – 500003
 Expert Evaluations India
 Graphics & Programming Phone: +91 – 40- 40171313
 Training Needs Analysis e-mail: geeta@kern-comm.com
Website: www.kern-comm.com
Blog:
http://elearning.kern-comm.com/
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