Web-Based Learning

Teachers working with students in a classroom are able to assess the students' learning styles and characteristics with face-to-face interaction early on in a course. But how can a teacher assess students when teaching a web-based course?

Assessing Readiness

Before teaching a web-based course, it is important for teachers to research the students in order to know where they stand in terms of being prepared for the material and ready to learn. In order to learn more about distance-learning students, a teacher can conduct an assessment inventory of the students before classes begin. This type of inventory is a series of questions tailored to determine the learning style of the students and to verify they meet the necessary pre-requisites for the course. It is preferably done on-line due to the nature of the course, but may also be done by paper survey or interview.

Assessment inventories are a valuable tool because they give teachers information about the students before a web-based course begins. To learn more about using assessment inventories, view our article about the importance of knowing entry-level characteristics of students.