STUDENTS' PERCEPTION OF ASSESSMENT METHODS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES IN ONLINE EDUCATION FRAMEWORK DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has raised significant challenges for the educational environment, taking a paradigm shift worldwide. After making an urgent and unexpected transition from previously face-to-face university courses to computer-based interactions with students at distant sites, the new context demands new method to assess the students learning outcomes. A survey was designed to measure the perception of undergraduates of online assessment activities across Covid-19 pandemic period, in terms of validity, reliability and objectiveness. This study investigated the UPB student's perception of assessment activities with stated learning objectives, collaborative learning, scheduling and tests timing, quality of the feedback, self-motivation, and communication regarding assessment process. Although the UPB students are accustomed to digital technologies, this survey outlines that the online environment facilitates and constrains particular methods of assessment. This study was conducted to investigate the perception of UPB's students regarding the feedback received from teachers, the transparency of the assessment process in the online environment, objectivity and correctness of assessment and grading, learning effort and grades received, although recognizing the considerable efforts have been made toward sustaining online classes UPB to the online environment. Bearing in mind that there is a significant technological context involved in education, affected by the COVID pandemic and restrictions, we emphasize the distinct aspects that would need improvement, raised by the learners, as becoming part of an e-learning community of practice. Synthesizing the results of this study, the present article focuses on the pedagogical perspective of using the digital tools in online assessment and concludes with recommendations for designing better online learning experiences by creating different formats of assessment and its application in a new distinctive online learning environment.