Deciding between Quizzes, Surveys, and Self-Assessments

Brightspace offers a variety of formative and summative assessment tools, deciding which one to use is often seen as a challenge. This effective practice can help you make that decision. Details:

  Quizzes Surveys Self-Assessments
Feedback for learner Feedback is released based on setup of quiz by instructor, may not be instant. Feedback is released after completion in the form of a report. Feedback is instantaneous after answering question.
Reporting for learner/instructor Reporting for Instructors – yes, they can see summative feedback on scores and particular answers. Reporting for Instructors – yes, reports are generated, and can be made anonymous. Reporting for Instructors – yes, but limited to who has taken SA and for time spent.
Use Case 1 Formative/Summative – ideally suited for summative assessment; with formative assessment, the tool takes too many clicks. Ice breaker to get learners to access previous knowledge of a topic. Diagnostic – to help gauge learner retention midway through a topic.
Use Case 2 Pre-Assessment – Use the quiz tool to act as a diagnostic before the course begins. Set up release conditions to provide content that learners need based on their answers. Diagnostic – to help gauge learner retention midway through topic. Self-Awareness tool – Learners can test themselves without the pressure of a graded item. They are allowed to make mistakes.
Use Case 3 Acknowledgement – Use the quiz tool as a form for agreeing to criteria in your course. “Check here to confirm you won’t cheat.”. Class Perception – builds a community of learning, as the cohort can see opinions of other learners Case Studies – Use the power of storytelling to elicit answers to demonstrate new knowledge!
Use Case 4   Course/Instructor Feedback – great for getting feedback on how a course was perceived. Ask your virtual tutor! – Use self-assessments to bounce ideas off of, and to act as your personal tutor.
Use Case 5     Pre-Assessment – Inspire students to engage with class material by seeing how much they already know, and convey the course objectives simultaneously.

Self-Assessments do not allow the student to revisit saved results. If you would like both students and instructors to be able to revisit results, create a quiz that is not attached to a Grade Book item.