Study On The Validity Of Online Formative Assessment

The network technology may help improve the validity and timeliness of feedbacks. The foreign research institutions have done some relative researches on the validity of the feedback through network technology. The distance educational institutions set up some web-based formative assessment experimental projects, such as CRTVU. We haven't found the relative literature on the validity study on the online formative assessment.This study combined with the web-based formative assessment experimental projects of the CRTVU, which includes 6 courses such as Macro and Micro economics. We use the log data that created on the formative assessment system server, from September 1^st 2005 to February 28^th 2006 (the autumn semester of the CRTVU in 2005), as the institutional data. Analyze the number, time and the content of the teacher's remarks. We also do some interview and questionnaire to study the validity and timeliness of the online formative assessment.The CRTVU upgraded the formative assessment system according to the former analysis, and added some statistic functions which can provide timely teaching feedbacks for the teachers. It also promotes the supervision of the tutors of the CRTVU. The main findings we got:Online formative assessment can improve the validity of assessment. By analyzing the contents of the teacher's comments, the online formative assessment can provide validly feedbacks. To increase the quality of the teacher's feedbacks, in one way, it needs to strengthen the supervision of the tutors, in another way, it needs to provide supports to teaching.Online formative assessment can guarantee the timeliness of the feedbacks. The network technology enhanced timely of the formative assessments. But the responsibility, positivity of the teachers and the ratio of teachers to students will affect the timely of assessments. Timely feedback should be provided before the students enter into the next learning cycle.Online formative assessment can improve the efficiency of teacher's teaching procedure.Online formative assessment can improve the quality and efficiency of the administration. The monitor function of the fonnative assessment system is more appropriate to monitor or inspect every tutor's remarks at any moment, and provide statistic data of the formative assessment.Technology threshold exists for online formative assessment. Its implements effects depend on the teacher and the students' computer and network capabilities. The technique obstacle is one of the difficulties for most teachers and students to attend the web-based formative assessment.Suggestions:To enhance the design of the formative task. The design of the formative task centered on the formative assessment function. The design of formative task should consider the design of the task contents, minimizing plagiarize phenomenon.To enhance the function of the teacher in the implementation of the web-based formative assessment, it is needed to improve the teaching administrate and teaching support.To improve the function of the formative assessment system. It is needed to remind students of deadline, to add links to learning system platform of CRTVU, to improve the statistic function and the function to examine teachers' remarks, to improve the validity of FAQ.