Frequent and Low-Stakes Assessments

In an asynchronous online learning environment, there needs to be increased efforts to make remote students feel connected to the course content and involved with their own learning. Additionally, one of the biggest challenges is helping the students remain on-track and focused about the due dates for course materials and learning activities. An effective method for addressing both of these issues is by including frequent and low-stakes assessments.

The purpose of low-stakes assignments is to provide students with recurring formative feedback that indicates how they are performing. This feedback can assist learners at gauging the elements of the course where they are doing well and identifying other areas that need improvement. These activities are intended to have a minimal impact on final course grades, but rather are directed at furthering student comprehension about the course materials and achieving the desired learning objectives. The low-risk nature of these tasks can help students take more responsibility with their own learning by offering multiple opportunities for self-assessments and reflections. Creating low-stakes assignments produces many benefits to student learning:

• Helps maintain student engagement through more ongoing instances of formative and constructive feedback.
• Provides visible forms of instructor communications and presence.
• Additional occasions for students to recall and apply new knowledge.
• Allows instructors to better identify at-risk students who may need additional assistance and resources.

There are many types of formative learning exercises to include in your courses that can promote student progress in a non-threatening manner. One useful method is to schedule periodic low-stakes quizzes that allow multiple attempts to achieve mastery of the content. These types of quizzes can serve as valuable check-ins for students to review course content, and receive constructive feedback to enhance understanding. Integrating more low-risk learning activities that emphasize practice applying course content and receiving helpful guidance is a valuable instructional strategy for developing student success.