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Usability testing
niranjana Srinivasan May 31, 2023 No Comments

All You Need To Know About Usability Testing

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Table of Contents Introduction Elements of Usability Testing Usability testing – Benefits Usability testing – Costs Usability and ePublishing Introduction Usability testing is a methodology in which the utility testing of a website or application is performed through many different methods. The product is evaluated by testing it with representative users. Test users exercise a product and think aloud about their experience using it, while an evaluator observes the users and listens in on their feedback. Based on this, the evaluator identifies usability problems and assesses the user experience.  These are put in place to establish whether a website or app is ready for publishing. Users will perform the usual tasks while testers watch, listen, and take notes. They try to identify usability problems that occur or might occur, collect qualitative and quantitative data, and determine the user’s product satisfaction.  Usability testing enables the collection of various data which can be used later for the modification and optimization of the application.  UX designers use this testing quite a lot because it represents how easy or difficult the design and interface are to individuals who will ultimately use it.  The design of the product needs to be interactive, attractive, and practical for the user to be able to use it. In usability testing functions one gets to monitor users interacting with the product and this can provide insights into the errors of the product.  Elements of Usability Testing The three core elements of Usability testing are: The participants The task The facilitator The participants need to be a close, realistic interpretation of the end user of the product. They should provide feedback about every question, and task offered to them. The tasks would be mostly real-life activities that the participant might perform in the presence of the product. The facilitator serves as a guide for the participant and provides the answers and instructions and solves the problem of the participant while asking to follow up with questions. The primary role of the facilitator in the usability test is to ensure proper, high-quality, valid data without influencing or compromising the participants’ behavior. The main goal of usability testing is to understand how users might interact with the website or app and make modifications according to the results. All three elements cooperate to form valid, quantitative, and qualitative data which could then be used to improve the performance of a product or service. Usability Testing – Benefits Usability testing enables the designers and developers to identify problems before they are coded. The earlier issues are identified and fixed, the less expensive it is in terms of time and resources. During a usability test, you will: Know if users can complete specific tasks successfully and Identify how long it takes to complete specific tasks Learn how satisfied users are with the website or other product Identify possible changes required to improve user performance and satisfaction Analyse if the user performance meets the usability objectives A solid test plan, recruitment of participants, and analysis and reporting of the findings are all required to effectively run a usability test. Effective Usability Testing does not require a formal usability lab as it can be done in any of these settings: Fixed laboratory with two or three connected rooms outfitted with audio-visual equipment A room with portable recording equipment A room with no recording equipment, if someone is observing the user and taking notes Remotely, with the user in a different location (moderated or unmoderated) [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Usability testing – Costs Your testing costs depend on the: Type of testing performed Size of the team for testing Number of participants for testing Number of days you will be testing Budgeting for more than one usability test is necessary. Building usability into any product is an iterative process. Some of the elements that need to b considered when budgeting for usability testing are: Time: Time is essential to plan a usability test. Both the usability specialist and the team would need time to become familiar with the site and pilot test the test scenarios. Time would also be required for running tests, data analysis, report writing, and presenting the findings. Recruiting Costs: Either allow staff time to recruit or engage a recruiting firm to schedule participants. Participant Compensation: If participants are to be compensated for their time or travel, then that has to be included in the budget. Rental Costs:  If you are renting recording, monitoring equipment, or a conference room, it accounts for the rental costs. Also Read: Challenges in UI Testing and How to Fix Them Usability and ePublishing Here are a few points to note while performing usability testing for ePublishing books: Sticking to one format throughout the text is important. Changing or switching fonts, paragraph styles, and other elements within the text can give it a raw, unpolished look. Using fonts that are widely used on computers and eReaders everywhere will make usage easy. Standard font lists are available. It is best to use a font with a Windows and a Mac version. Using low-resolution .png or .jpg files for the images is advised. High-resolution images can result in very large files that would take time to download and this would frustrate the reader. Page numbers and headings are not fixed for eReader. If they are used, then there is the risk of headings and page numbers appearing on the pages at random points throughout the text.  One must also ask the following questions: How it scales across different orientations –  be it landscape or portrait Is it easy to customize content?  Is there access to help with the eBook? Are there accelerators available for quick access within a book, such as navigating to a particular page Is there consistency in the design? How smooth is the navigation inside the book? Is the content accessible (for the visually impaired or the cognitively impaired) What are the technical limitations of the eBook? Usability is not merely an obligatory step in the project schedule. There should be clarity as

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Gokulnath B May 30, 2023 No Comments

7 Tips for Finding the Best Digital Prepress Services for Your Needs

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In today’s era of marketing and digital services, printing plays a critical role in any business. With ever-growing organizational costs and backend expenses, many companies are outsourcing their prepress and print services to several vendors across the world. It’s no wonder that the global commercial printing outsourcing market is expected to grow with a significant CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) during 2021-2029. Digital prepress services allow companies to produce high-quality printed materials while saving significant time and money. Prepress is a key element of the broadcasting, marketing, and publishing industries. Table of Contents: What are Digital Prepress Services? Tips to Choose the Right Digital Prepress Services Vendor Project Creation and Graphic Designing Experience Reputation Pricing Customer Service Versatile Language Typesetting Content Digitization and Proofing Wrapping Up Outsourcing prepress services can relieve publicists of a huge burden. But with so many vendors available, how can you find one worth the investment? Here are some tips to help you hire the best digital prepress service provider. What are Digital Prepress Services? Digital prepress services involve the process of converting a digital file into a printable format. In other words, it is the process of developing a digital file for printing on a press. These services utilize advanced equipment and software to produce high-quality printed products that meet the client’s expectations. The prepress process comprises several tasks that can be broken down into multiple stages: file creation, image retouching, color correction, and page layout. Whether you want to produce large-scale signage or custom printed materials, digital prepress services offer various benefits to enable your company to achieve its printing objectives. Also Read: Digital Prepress – Simplifying the Workflow for Publishers Tips to Choose the Right Digital Prepress Services Vendor 1. Project Creation and Graphic Designing One of the most essential things to consider while analyzing potential vendors is the application they use for creating a project. The final product outcome depends completely on the manner the project was produced. Using the latest applications like QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign not only gives the best outcomes but also reduces the time needed to convert an idea into a document. Whether it is a product handbook, retailing pamphlet, or a trade copy, they must appeal to the customer. So choose a vendor that uses the correct software to create engaging and expert graphics while providing a variety of services such as redrawing, revising, color fixing, resizing, graphical offprint, etc.     2. Experience A vendor with good experience will possess all the relevant skills and knowledge required to achieve the best results. There are a lot of vendors who have been in the printing business for years. You can always check out the vendor’s experience on their website. Get in touch with them to know more about the current trends in digital prepress services. Experienced vendors can help you combine all the excellent features to produce the best final product. 3. Reputation Hiring a reputable digital prepress services provider can significantly reduce your chances of being scammed or disappointed. Perform extensive research to learn about the vendor’s reputation. Visit their social media accounts or website and check out the client testimonials and reviews. Find out how long they have been in the industry and do they have experienced and competent staff. Do not rush things. Take adequate time to find out basic details about the vendor. Online reviews are a great source to find out if the vendor is known for exceptional service or not. Once you’ve learned about the company’s reputation, selecting the best vendor for your needs becomes easier.   4. Pricing What can be better than a company that offers you the best quality with great value? Choose a vendor that provides the perfect balance between the two. If the prices are too good to be true, the vendor might be overvaluing their services. And if the pricing is too expensive, it signifies that the vendor lacks essential supplies or equipment required for your product. So ensure to verify the pricing of different vendors. Remember not to select a poor prepress service provider just due to their cheap price range. Determining the overall prepress service costs well in advance helps with budget planning and calculating the expected ROI (Return on Investment).     5. Customer Service Professional, trustworthy, and responsive vendors ensure that your project is well-handled. Choosing a service provider that can listen to and understand all your needs thoroughly will make things smoother for you. You need a vendor with good troubleshooting and communication skills. Another factor to consider is smooth and reliable customer service. The company must be able to handle your account from start to finish efficiently and seamlessly. Proper and prompt communication with clients makes working with them a pleasure. So select a vendor that will be able to work well with you.   6. Versatile Language Typesetting Make sure to choose a vendor with versatile language typesetting services, which include print media in addition to various electronic compositions. The vendor must create records and later upload them to a secured server based on your specification for quick review. It is always best to ensure the vendor uses the newest software like Adobe InDesign, Adobe PageMaker, Quark, etc. 7. Content Digitization and Proofing Vendors must have the capacity and support to convert a group of records into the desired digital or e-format. Make sure they can scan your pictures and text records and then implement Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) & Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to transform your data into digital format. They must have the ability to generate outcomes even when you provide non-editable PDFs and JPEGs. In other words, outcomes must come from various unreadable e-formats.   Assuring that the ultimate output is correct without errors is as important as the digital prepress process. Vendors must pay attention to proofing and guarantee comprehensive precision with recurring quality tests. Also Read: The Latest Trends in Prepress Services: What You Need to Know Wrapping Up! Ultimately, it all depends on how much you’re willing to

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Antara Harve May 30, 2023 No Comments

The Importance of Performance Assessment Tools in Digital Learning

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Performance assessment tools, or e-learning assessment tools, as the name suggests, are the tools that are used to test the performance of the learners. They are like the trusty sidekicks of digital learning. Picture them as your cheerleaders, guides, and evaluators all rolled into one. These tools are specifically designed to measure your progress, assess your skills, and help you reach your full potential. Course creators and mentors can utilize these tools to analyze how effective and efficient the learning is. In addition, performance assessment tools can also be implemented to check whether learners can apply the theoretical course knowledge in certain situations. Different types of digital assessment tools can be implemented in the form of interactive quizzes, flashcards, tests, assignments, and much more, depending on the course objective and goals. And here is the best part- digital assessment tools do not leave us hanging with a score or a grade. They go the extra mile. They provide detailed insights and analytics, showing us where we excel and where we might need a little extra practice. And according to experts at Education Development Center (EDC), when students are involved in the assessment process through performance evaluation, it boosts their engagement and ultimately improves their learning outcomes. Table of Contents: Why Are Performance Assessment Tools Necessary For Digital Learning? 5 Ways Performance Assessment Tools are Revolutionizing E-Learning Provides Real-Time Feedback Increases Engagement Can Make Customized Learning Paths Offers Data-Driven Insights Encourages Collaborative Learning Conclusion Why Are Performance Assessment Tools Necessary For Digital Learning? The importance of digital assessment tools can not be underestimated. Now, before you start scratching your head and wondering what performance assessment tools have to do with digital learning, let us take a moment to think about the traditional classroom setup. Remember those days when teachers would hand out quizzes, tests, and assignments to test our understanding of the subject matter? Well, in the digital era, things have taken a fascinating turn. Digital learning has revolutionized education, giving us access to a vast ocean of knowledge at our fingertips. According to a report by McKinsey & Company, the number of learners enrolled in online courses was 300,000 in 2011. And this number has risen to 220 million in 2021. The growing popularity of digital learning is attributed to a lot of factors. For example, digital learning has allowed us to learn at our own pace, explore diverse topics, and connect with experts worldwide. But here is the thing: with all these incredible opportunities, how do we ensure that our learning is effective and that we are grasping the concepts? This is where performance assessment tools come to the rescue. These nifty tools are designed to evaluate our progress, measure our achievements, and provide invaluable feedback that guides us toward improvement. There are various types of digital assessment tools, ranging from interactive quizzes and online simulations to data-driven analytics that tracks our learning journey. Having said that, it is important to choose the right assessment tool for better learning outcomes. 5 Ways Performance Assessment Tools are Revolutionizing E-Learning Here are the top 5 ways in which performance assessment tools are transforming the landscape of the e-learning industry, thus demonstrating the importance of assessment tools in teaching: 1. Provides Real-Time Feedback Digital assessment tools are transforming learning by providing real-time feedback. Gone are the days when students had to wait for weeks to get their tests and assessments graded. Whether it is a quiz or an interactive exercise, these tools offer immediate insights into your performance, enabling learners to identify areas of strength and weakness on the spot.  2. Increases Engagement By utilizing gamification and 3D animation objects, e-learning assessment tools are making e-learning more fun and interactive. In addition to this, the incorporation of game-like features such as badges, leaderboards, and rewards makes learning more enjoyable, motivating, and less dreading. This transforms the learning process into an immersive adventure, inspiring learners to actively participate in the learning process. 3. Can Make Customized Learning Paths This is one of the less explored features of performance assessment tools. However, if implemented rightly can be the biggest game changer in the e-learning industry. We know that no two learners are the same. They have their strengths and weaknesses. However, by continuously evaluating the progress and analyzing the responses of learners, these tools can generate personalized learning paths. With this tailored approach, learners can maximize their learning potential and achieve better outcomes. Also Read:  6 Pro Tips to Create Great Custom eLearning Paths How To Use Learning Paths to Create Learning Programs 4. Offers Data-Driven Insights All the data of a learner’s learning journey is stored by performance assessment tools. Online assessment tools for teachers actively analyze this data and provide detailed insights and reports about their learning journey and performance. Mentors can utilize this data to gain a deeper understanding of student performance, identify patterns, and tailor their teaching strategies accordingly. 5. Encourages Collaborative Learning Different types of digital assessment tools offer various collaborative tools to make e-learning less isolated. Learners can collaborate with their mentors and other learners to take part in group discussions and interactive projects. This would subsequently help them to exchange ideas, share perspectives, and collectively deepen their understanding of the subject matter. Final Thoughts To conclude, performance assessment tools are revolutionizing e-learning by providing instant feedback, personalizing learning paths, gamifying the experience, offering data-driven insights, and encouraging collaboration. They empower learners to take control of their education, enhance engagement, and ultimately unlock their full potential in the digital landscape. As we continue to embrace the advantages of these tools, the future of e-learning looks brighter than ever before. Hurix Digital is an all-inclusive digital assessment tool that provides a holistic online evaluation platform for K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and corporate training providers. With Hurix, educators can effortlessly generate, administer, and assess assessments in a virtual environment. Moreover, the platform supports a wide array of question formats, such as multiple-choice, true or false, and short-answer questions. 

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Antara Harve May 30, 2023 No Comments

Online Assessment Test: The Ultimate Way To Track Students’ Progress

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Effective assessment of the student’s performance is critical to running an educational institution. Proper assessment of the students’ learning journeys helps gauge their progress and measure their level of achievement. The traditional educational system doesn’t do justice to the assessment process as it follows a one-dimensional approach to measuring students’ progress. However, given the ever-rising popularity of online education, it is time to revamp the assessment process as well. The number of learners who opted for massive open online courses (MOOCs) rose drastically from 300,000 in 2011 to 220 million in 2021 (1). As the field of education continues to evolve, online assessment tests and digital assessment tools for teachers are becoming increasingly common.  Online assessment tools for teachers and e-learning assessment tools are revolutionizing how students’ performances are evaluated. Online tools for assessment come with a range of benefits for teachers and students. Table of Contents: Online Assessment Tests: Benefits Of Online Assessment For Students Range of Assessments  Proctored Examinations Online Question Bank  Online Assessment Rubrics  Online Exam Notification Automated Marking  Online Report Generation  Conclusion Online Assessment Tests: Benefits Of Online Assessment For Students Online assessment tests are time-saving, cost-effective, and bring a host of other benefits to the table as well. E-learning platforms are revolutionizing the way people educate themselves.  Also Read: Why Is It Essential To Get the Right Digital Assessment Tool?  1. Range of Assessments  With the availability of digital assessment tools for teachers and appropriate software, it is possible to prepare a range of assessments using online assessment tests.  Summative Assessments  Summative assessments are for assessing both the educational program and the learning of the participants. These assessments are basically conducted at the end of the term of learning and include mid-term, half-yearly, and end-of-the-term exams. Projects and assignments are also included in this category.   Online tools for assessment can help teachers develop quizzes, activities, and other kinds of engaging content. Furthermore, they can create summative assessments more comprehensively, allowing for modules that analyze students’ critical thinking skills and ability to communicate effectively. Formative Assessments  Formative assessments include a range of formal and informal assessments aiming to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback. The feedback is used to improve the teaching methods used by the instructors to enhance the student’s learning experiences. Formative assessments also help students identify their strong points and also those areas that they need to focus on more. Using different types of formative tests helps teachers determine the comprehension capacities and understanding capabilities of different students. By utilizing a student progress tracker online, educational institutions can easily carry out formative assessments and track whether students are performing well or not.  2. Proctored Examinations Proctored examinations are timed examinations in which the students are monitored and authenticated while they give the examination. In online proctored examinations, the students are monitored using computers, webcam video, and audio. The proctoring software records the data and transfers it to a proctoring service for review. An online infrastructure supports all the activities in an online assessment test. The online examination proctoring market is predicted to reach US$ 1,742.95 million by 2028. In remote examination systems, there are security concerns regarding students cheating. However, by integrating proctoring software, one can authenticate online assessment tests. Audio and video features can capture the students’ movements during the entire during of examination to ensure that they maintain the code of conduct and don’t cheat.  Features of Online Proctoring Systems: Authentication of students Real-time monitoring of students  Raising flags in real-time Availability of data for later review  3. Online Question Bank  In traditional education, teachers typically prepare question papers by typing down questions after referring to books, course materials, and the previous years’ question papers. This process is tedious and time-consuming. However, in online assessment tests, the questionnaires are stored online, making it extremely simple for the instructors to access them when and as needed. Another benefit of using e-learning assessment tools is that multimedia questions can be asked in the examination. Instructors can create questionnaires with audio, video, and text options with the help of these tools. 4. Online Assessment Rubrics  A rubric is a set of criteria used for assessing learners’ performance. It provides more details than just marks or grades and is more objective. Online assessment rubrics are highly efficient for assessing online examinations. Not only do they increase objectivity and reduce subjectivity, but they also reduce grading time and address a few other issues related to traditional assessment. They convey timely feedback to students and help them understand which areas need more focused attention. Rubrics typically include levels of performance and descriptors, presented as a grid-type structure. Some common rubrics that instructors often use: Analytic Rubrics Developmental Rubrics Holistic Rubrics Checklists Also Read: A Comprehensive 7-Step Process to Design a Competency-Based Curriculum 5. Online Exam Notification One of the major benefits of using online assessment tests is that students can be easily notified of the exam dates. Traditionally, students had to check the college or university notice boards for exam schedules, and there was the risk that someone could miss the notification. However, with online assessment tests, the exam notification also happens online, and every student is notified of the exam schedule through emails and text messages. Educational institutes now have the option of sending notifications and alerts to students through various communication channels. In the case of younger students, their parents can access the school’s online portals to check the exam schedule. 6. Automated Marking  Automated marking software programs are among the most useful digital assessment tools for teachers. Unlike in traditional education, where teachers were expected to put in several hours of dedicated work to check and grade examination papers, in online education, marking can be easily automated using appropriate software. Students take online assessment tests electronically. These papers are then marked by software capable of accurately checking the answers. The automated marking facility speeds up the checking process and is more accurate than human teachers. The performance report is also generated online,

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Antara Harve May 30, 2023 No Comments

Online Assessment: The Future Of E-Learning

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Online assessment has become an effective tool in the e-learning sector in recent years. Online assessment has developed into a crucial part of contemporary educational practices as a result of the development of digital technology and the rising desire for remote learning. With the passing years, the digital e-learning market is expected to witness substantial growth, estimated to increase to USD 1.72 trillion between 2022 and 2026, reflecting a CAGR of 16%. Higher education holds the dominant market share within this sector. In this post, we’ll look at the advantages of online assessment as a terrific e-learning tool for both teachers and students. Table of Contents: What is Online Assessment? Why Online Assessment is a Great e-Learning Tool? Digital Assessment Tools For Teachers E-Learning Assessment Tools Training Assessment Tools Benefits of Online Assessment Conclusion What is Online Assessment? Online assessment is the process of evaluating a student’s learning progress and accomplishments using digital tools and technologies. It can be applied to many different goals, including formative, summative, and diagnostic evaluations. Numerous formats are possible, including tests, assignments, surveys, and quizzes. Why Online Assessment is a Great e-Learning Tool? There are several reasons why online assessment is a great tool for e-learning. For one, it allows teachers to easily evaluate their student’s understanding of a particular subject matter. This is especially important in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, where students have access to a wealth of information at their fingertips. The provision of immediate feedback via online assessment is essential to keep students engaged and motivated; however, in some cases, with traditional pen-and-paper exams, it can take a couple of days up to a few weeks to get your marks. For some students who are struggling with specific subjects or topics, this can prove challenging and demotivating. Self-directed learning is promoted through the use of online assessment tools, and the ability of students to take ownership of their learning is heightened as they are allowed to take assessments at a pace that suits them. Online assessment tools are experiencing increasing adoption rates. The global market for self-paced e-learning is projected to expand from $7.61 billion in 2022 to $8.06 billion in 2023, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. Also Read: Why Is It Essential To Get the Right Digital Assessment Tool? Digital Assessment Tools For Teachers Digital assessment tools have revolutionized the way educators administer and grade assessments. These tools are designed to be effective, efficient, and user-friendly, providing multiple functionalities for seamless assessment management. Online assessment tools for teachers enable easy evaluation of students’ learning progress and achievements through the web. With a wide range of helpful features and functions, these tools simplify the entire assessment process, making it more convenient for educators to manage assessments digitally. Assessment Tools Examples For Teachers Examples of e-learning assessment tools for instructors might change according to the kind of assessment they want to do. Teachers can utilize the following examples of assessment tools:- Multiple-choice quizzes: These are quizzes that present students with a question and several answer options. Students must select the correct answer from the options provided. Short answer questions: These are questions that require students to provide a brief written response. They are often used to test students’ understanding of key concepts. Essays: Longer written assignments called essays demand that students demonstrate their knowledge and critical thinking abilities. E-Learning Assessment Tools E-learning assessment tools are specialized software applications that allow students to assess their learning progress and achievements online. With their diverse features and functions, these tools make self-evaluation easier and more effective. Students can conveniently track their performance and measure their understanding using these user-friendly e-Learning Assessment tools for students.  Training Assessment Tools Training assessment tools are invaluable resources for measuring the effectiveness of training programs. These tools provide a systematic and objective way to evaluate learners’ knowledge, skills, and performance. With comprehensive reporting and analytics features, training assessment tools enable the identification of areas of improvement and optimize their training initiatives for enhanced development. Benefits of Online Assessment Online assessment has several advantages for both students and teachers. Some of the primary advantages of online assessments are as follows: Enhanced Efficiency: Online assessment tools have a variety of features that simplify the assessment process, allowing teachers to develop and conduct examinations more effectively. These solutions frequently feature question banks, automated grading, and quick result creation, which reduces the amount of time and effort necessary for assessment preparation. Additionally, online eLearning assessment tools eliminate the need for manual data entry, saving teachers valuable time. Improved Engagement: Digital assessment systems provide interactive features such as multimedia elements, drag-and-drop functionality, and real-time feedback, making exams more engaging for students. Interactive elements in online assessments can enhance the learning experience, capture students’ attention, and cater to different learning styles. This increased engagement can contribute to better knowledge retention and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Enhanced Feedback: Online assessment tools offer immediate feedback to students, allowing them to review their performance and identify areas for improvement. Unlike traditional assessments, where students may have to wait for days or even weeks to receive their results, online assessments provide instant feedback on their answers, enabling timely intervention and targeted remediation. This feedback loop encourages self-reflection and helps students track their progress, promoting continuous learning and growth. Flexibility: Online assessment technologies provide flexibility in terms of when and where students can complete their assessments. Students can access the assessments remotely and take them at their own pace, eliminating the need for synchronized test-taking in a physical classroom. This flexibility accommodates students’ diverse schedules and learning preferences, enabling them to balance their academic commitments with other responsibilities. Cost-Effective: Online assessments can be more cost-effective compared to traditional paper-based assessments. With paper assessments, educational institutions incur expenses for printing, distributing, and storing physical test materials. Online assessments eliminate these costs and reduce the reliance on paper, contributing to a more environmentally friendly approach. Furthermore, online assessment tools often offer scalability, allowing educational institutions to

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Antara Harve May 30, 2023 No Comments

Online Assessment Test: Benefits Of Online Assessment Test Over The Offline Assessment Test

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The world of education has changed drastically, and we are not just talking about the growing popularity of eLearning. As per a report by McKinsey, the overall enrolment for universities declined by 3% in 2021. Meanwhile, the enrolments at the largest online universities are up by 11%, with the number of learners enrolled in online courses increasing from 300,000 in 2011 to 220 million in 2021. This shows that the future of learning will be digital, but it also needs to be self-paced, agile, and flexible to meet the unique demands of learners. And to match the pace of today’s digital education comes the need for online assessment tests. Instead of the traditional pen and paper exam that was proctored at a physical classroom, online assessments offer a myriad world of benefits, not just to students but also to teachers. If you are on the fence about embracing online assessment tests, here is a detailed blog on understanding what it offers and its advantages over offline assessment tests. Table of Contents: What are Online Assessments? Online Assessments Vs. Offline Assessments Conclusion What are Online Assessments? Online assessment tests are similar to offline tests but allow students to take exams or assessments via an internet-connected device. To take an online exam or test, students must log in to the assessment platform using their device (ideally a laptop or desktop). Once logged in, they can answer the questions in the test – which can be multiple-choice, short-answers, fill-in-the-blanks, long answers, or a combination of these. When the assessment is complete, the results are automatically recorded and can be reviewed by the teacher. Online assessments help to measure the student’s knowledge, understanding of the topic, and skills in the required domain. Online Assessments Vs. Offline Assessments Now that we know how online assessment tests work, let us look at some key differences between online and offline assessments. In this section, we will also cover the advantages and disadvantages of online assessment. Parameters Online Assessment Test Offline Assessment Test Flexibility & Convenience The key benefit of online assessments is their flexibility and convenience. The assessment can be completed from anywhere, at any time, and using digital devices makes it ideal for most students. This helps make learning more personalized and accommodates diverse schedules and learning needs. Offline assessments require students to be physically present in the exam hall or classroom at a specific time. This makes it inflexible and can often be a predicament for students with conflicting schedules. Immediate Feedback Since the answers are instantly stored and automatically graded, online assessments can offer prompt feedback to students to help identify strengths and weaknesses in real time. Thus, there are several benefits of online assessment for students, such as encouraging self-reflection, timely course correction, and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Since the grades and results are done manually, immediate feedback is almost impossible. The grading and result compilation process can often take a few days or weeks for larger institutions. This delays the learning process, and students may move on to a new topic before getting their assessment results, making it hard to comprehend previous mistakes or course corrections. Learner Experience Digital Assessment Tools often have interactive features such as multimedia content, gamification elements, immersive experiences like interactive quizzes, timed challenges, and others that make them more engaging. Traditional assessments are limited due to the pen-and-paper format. Plus, there is a complete absence of multimedia resources or interactive features, which makes it less engaging and often tiring. Detailed Analytics & Reports These tests include a student progress tracker online and other real-time data that teachers can access, like time taken, grades, areas of improvement, etc. These advanced reports help teachers provide detailed guidance and tailor teaching strategies per student needs. Offline assessments lack comprehensive data analytics and reporting capabilities, requiring manual grading and result compilation. Accessibility Online assessments can be provided with text-to-speech features, adjustable font sizes, or alternative formats to support learners with special needs. While offline assessments can be tailored for those with special needs, providing tailored accommodations on a large scale is challenging. In addition, physical limitations and constraints can often hinder inclusivity in the evaluation process. Cost & Resource Requirements Digital tools for assessment can have an initial investment, but they can significantly reduce assessment costs in the long run.  Offline assessments require no initial cost but incur ongoing expenses, such as logistical arrangements, printing materials, and other physical resources. In addition, the need for invigilators and examiners at the physical location also adds to the overall budget. Conclusion To conclude, online assessment tests are the key to making eLearning successful, and it’s clear that they offer several benefits over offline mode. However, since education today is mostly self-paced and customized to meet the unique demands of learners, the assessments also have to be dynamic, personalized, and ideal to match their requirements. Online tests bring the efficiency and convenience required in today’s dynamic environment. The students can take assessment tests at their own pace and their own time, without being bound by time or location. Plus, by using digital eLearning assessment tools, teachers can easily track progress, craft tests, and grade quizzes and other assessments in minutes. This ensures that assessments are tailored to the needs of the students and teachers. So leverage the power of a digital assessment platform to make the life of your teachers and students simpler and more productive. With platforms like Hurix Digital, you don’t just get an online assessment tool but an end-to-end learning management solution that can help you design curriculums and courses tailored for your audience. Check out Hurix today and redefine eLearning with top online assessment tests.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Antara Harve May 30, 2023 No Comments

What Is Formative Assessment? Examples And Types Of Formative Assessment

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Assessment and evaluation in higher education is not a recent phenomenon. Instructors have been conducting examinations since the earliest time to evaluate students’ understanding of a subject and monitor their progress. However, the types of assessment in higher education have evolved over the years. While the traditional summative exams are still prevalent, instructors have started focusing on assessing students understanding during the learning process. This type of assessment is called formative assessment. In this blog, we will discuss formative assessment in detail and understand its types and benefits. Table of Contents: What Is Formative Assessment? Types Of Formative Assessments What Is Formative Assessment In Mathematics? Is Formative Assessment Graded? Create Interactive Formative Assessments With Hurix What Is Formative Assessment? Formative assessment is when educators evaluate the student’s knowledge as they learn. It involves creating a series of quick-fire questions and exercises to monitor the learner’s progress during the course.  The data collected from formative assessments help teachers understand the misconceptions or gaps in students understanding. They can use this insight to modify their teaching strategies to help students understand better. Likewise, students can use formative assessment feedback to reflect on their learning and progress, identify their weaknesses, and adjust their study habits or approaches. Unlike summative assessments, which occur at the end of a term, formative assessments are ongoing. Hence, they serve as a tool for improving learning rather than solely for grading purposes. A recent study on 72 Iranian EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners found formative assessment more effective on academic motivation, test anxiety, and self-regulatory skills than summative assessments. It underlines the importance of formative assessment in education. Also Read: How to Devise an Effective Online Learning Assessment Strategy Some formative assessment examples include: Asking students to write a concise summary of what they learned in class Taking a short quiz after a lesson to provide immediate feedback to students Conducting open-end discussions in the classroom related to a topic being taught Asking students to give feedback on their peers’ essays, projects, or presentations Types Of Formative Assessments Formative assessments do not have a specific standard to follow. Hence, instructors have the flexibility to try different approaches and devise an effective assessment strategy. If the education is online or remote, educators can opt for formative e-assessments. They have been found to help higher-education students monitor their progress and improve learning. Educators can use offline techniques such as oral or peer assessments for in-person courses. The commonly used types of formative assessment in higher education include:   Short Quizzes   A quiz is a great formative assessment approach, especially in online education. It will provide immediate feedback on students’ understanding of the concept taught. Instructors can prepare short online quizzes for students during or after a lesson before moving them to the next level. You can also make the assessment more game-like and fun by including points and rewards, badges, or leaderboards.   Pre-Class Open-Ended Questions   Formative assessments can be as simple as asking students to recall what they learned in the previous class before starting a new one. The questions need not be overly complex. You could simply ask open-ended questions like “What did you find most interesting about the topic?” or “What was its most difficult aspect?”. It will allow students to recollect their thoughts and instructors to gauge their retention ability.   End-Of-Class Poll   Taking a classroom poll at the end is a good idea if you’ve just delivered a long lecture or performed an in-depth discussion on a topic. You can ask your students how informative the session was and whether they could grasp the concept. The poll can be online with emoji ratings or simply a show of hands in the classroom. The insight from the survey can help teachers make timely adjustments to optimize learning outcomes.   Word Cloud   If you’re looking for a concise assessment, consider word cloud. Ask students to submit a one-word response to your questions regarding the concept or topic taught in class. Word cloud encourages students to think carefully before submitting their answers and is more fun than lengthy answer assessments. Individual responses will provide instructors with dynamic visuals into the understanding levels of students.   Concept Maps   Another way to assess students is by asking them to create visual diagrams or maps to represent their understanding of a topic. It can be a valuable tool to help students draw hierarchies and interrelationships between different concepts.   Peer Assessment   In peer assessments, students evaluate each other’s work and provide feedback. It could be a project, presentation, or written assignment. Instructors could ask learners to highlight their peers’ strengths and provide suggestions for improvement. These types of formative assessments allow room for self-reflection while also developing learners’ evaluation skills.   Class Discussions   Classroom discussion is a great way to increase student participation in the classroom. Open-end discussions and debates allow students to express their thoughts and opinion regarding a topic and foster an active learning environment. Through such debates, instructors can learn a great deal about their students’ abilities and comprehension. Also Read: Tips for Designing Math Books with InDesign: From Concept to Creation What Is Formative Assessment In Mathematics? Formative assessment in the classroom need not be limited to theoretical courses but can also be applied to practical subjects. In mathematics, formative assessments, such as concept mapping, can help instructors assess learners’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills and support their mathematical development. Some formative assessment examples in mathematics include: Observing and analyzing students’ mathematical problem-solving approaches in class. Administering brief quizzes or short answer questions to assess understanding of specific mathematical concepts or procedures Conducting group discussions to probe students’ thinking and reasoning in mathematical problem-solving Analyzing students’ responses to questions that require them to explain their reasoning and justify their solutions Is Formative Assessment Graded? Formative assessments are informal and do not contribute to a student’s final grade or academic records. Then what is formative assessment in education

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Antara Harve May 30, 2023 No Comments

Importance of Summative Assessment and the Types of Assessment in Higher Education

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]All teachers, administrators, exam supervisors, and lecturers are familiar with the term summative assessment. From weekly quizzes to annual examinations, summative assessments are the most effective ways to examine a student’s progress. Summative assessments not only establish the developmental patterns of students but also provide actionable insights to educators. However, they require a significant investment of time from students and educationists. Having proper knowledge about the types of assessment in higher education can go a long way in conducting the assessments in an improved and efficient manner. Let’s discuss summative assessments in detail to understand how you can analyze your student’s abilities and maximize their inner potential. Table of Contents: What is Summative Assessment in Education? Importance of Summative Assessment Essential Features of Summative Assessment Practicality and Ethical Reliability Variety Validity Quick Reports Examples and Types of Summative Assessment in Higher Education Standardized Admission Tests End-of-Term Exams Oral Tests Formal Essays Group Projects and Practical Assignments Wrapping up What is Summative Assessment in Education? A summative assessment is usually conducted at the end of a study course or training program to evaluate the learner’s acquired proficiency and knowledge against a pre-determined benchmark or standard. Comprising grading rubrics and clear instructions to assess how much the student has learned and retained, the stakes for this method have a high point value. Under this type of assessment, it is challenging for the instructor to provide personalized feedback on students’ performance. However, the results are significant enough to analyze students’ strengths and weaknesses. Nowadays, teachers can access several online summative evaluation tools to get better results and make better strategic learning decisions. Read Also: Why Higher Education Institutions Need an Education Services Company Importance of Summative Assessment Standard-driven instructions play a crucial role in today’s education system. Summative assessments provide an important benchmark to track the progress of institutions and students, thereby aiding the evaluation of the country’s educational program as a whole. Such types of assessment in higher education contribute significantly towards upgrading the overall curriculum planning. Whenever the evaluation data indicates a gap between student understanding and learning targets, institutions may resort to new learning criteria and enhanced curriculum planning to analyze and maximize their educational attainment levels and efficacy. Essential Features of Summative Assessment 1. Practicality and Ethical The summative evaluation processes are practical, flexible, and calculable. They are well-aligned, which makes it simple for the instructor to incorporate them into a training program. Summative assessment promotes clear learning and teaching boundaries. The instructor is required to receive students’ consent before implementing this method. 2. Reliability Being a standardized method of knowledge-based assessments, summative evaluation provides reliable and exact results. With the help of a well-defined process, it is easier to reveal a student’s capability in a field. It also provides consistent and accurate outcomes when used in relevant contexts.    3. Variety Students are encouraged to exhibit their knowledge and skills in several ways under the summative evaluation method. You need to keep in mind that this method is used for an identified purpose, and it is limited to the material shared during the training or course.   4. Validity Always remember that summative assessment examines the students’ skills in a particular subject matter in line with the objectives and learning goals of the training or course. For instance, an engineering course includes practical tests and experiments to evaluate students’ knowledge of core topics. 5. Quick Reports As the main idea behind summative assessment is to check students’ progress, there is always a summarized report of results after the examination ends. This helps the instructors to compare students’ past and present performances. Examples and Types of Summative Assessment in Higher Education 1. Standardized Admission Tests Higher education institutions conduct these tests for students to qualify them for a specific program or course. Based on pre-determined cut-off marks and the student’s performance on the test, they are granted admission to the desired program. For example, TOEFL and IELTS are standardized English proficiency tests that determine a student’s language skill levels. Usually, these types of assessments in higher education are conducted on a large scale, and they utilize explicit scoring criteria for allotting grades. 2. End-of-Term Exams End-Of-Term examinations are one of the most common methods of assessment and evaluation in higher education. These exams have a simple structure – the instructor formulates relevant questions, and the students submit their answers within a specific interval. They not only help teachers assess students’ subject matter knowledge but also provide quantitative results, allowing teachers to grade students and determine their success rate. What’s more, teachers can avoid the heavy workload attached to paper assessments by leveraging online test platforms to conduct the assessments. 3. Oral Tests If you want to get spontaneous and real-time responses from students after a specific course or program, then the oral summative test is an ideal option. You can use unstructured, semi-structured, or structured interview approaches to assess students’ progress. Many teachers conduct oral tests on various topics in classrooms to analyze students’ understanding of the subject matter. The type of questions asked during oral tests depends on the kind of interview method you embrace. 4. Formal Essays What can be better than formal essays to determine students’ perspectives and thought processes? Promoting essay writing skills helps students explain their ideas and understanding of any topic. It is a great way to evaluate their level of knowledge regarding a particular concept. Formal essays allow them to argue for or against a topic, narrate their learning experiences or explain their understanding of a subject matter in descriptive prose. 5. Group Projects and Practical Assignments Another excellent way to evaluate students’ knowledge is to assign them tasks within small groups. For example, a group task can help you evaluate how students develop a framework and solve a particular problem after training them on conflict resolution and teamwork. Assigning practical projects to students for specific subjects, with precise and clear guidelines, gives teachers a direct chance to assess students’ abilities and skills

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Benefits of Stackable Credentials for Community and Technical Colleges
Aloysius Fernandez May 30, 2023 No Comments

Benefits of Stackable Credentials for Community and Technical Colleges

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A Moody’s Investors Service report predicted a disruption in higher education in the US, with universities expanding into an online degree, non-degree, and certificate programs, according to Inside Higher Ed and Education Dive.  “Some universities previously resistant to change will have to take more expansive steps to adapt to this transformation,” Pranav Sharma, Assistant Vice President at Moody’s, was quoted as saying in a statement. “Not all universities, however, have the resources or culture to move quickly and the coronavirus will expedite existential threats for some.” While universities with resources are moving to invest in online education, others are entering partnerships with online education providers. In August this year, the University of Arizona announced its acquisition of Ashford University, an online college with 35,000 student enrollments, while, in June, the University of Massachusetts announced a partnership with the online Brandman University.  The move to build differentiated programs with online capabilities precedes the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Take the instance of Purdue University acquiring the “long-time leader in adult education,” Kaplan University to create Purdue University Global.  After the coronavirus threat passes, strong university brands will see a return of students to the campus for traditional courses and programs that require hands-on work. On the other hand, universities with inconsistent student demand will need to adapt their business models by adding online learning with stackable non-degree and certificate programs.  On the day Moody’s released its report, the Strada Center for Consumer Insights released a Covid-19 Work and Education Survey on What’s Driving Americans’ Interest in Short-term and Virtual Skills Training Options. The survey was conducted by the Indianapolis-based Strada Education Network, which transformed itself from a federal student loan guarantor, USA Funds, established in 1960, to a national social impact enterprise in 2014, according to Forbes.  The Strada survey showed 62 percent of American adults aged 18 and older preferred either skills training or nondegree credential courses. Of these, Americans with a high school education or less thought that education programs should be stackable. Interest in online training and certificate programs spiked in April and May this year when school and college campuses shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, leading massive open online course (MOOC) providers and other schools to increase their non-degree credentials offerings.  Enrollments to the 13 courses that Harvard Business School Online offers increased 650 percent between April and June compared to the same period a year earlier, according to Inside Higher Ed. Similarly, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign saw an increase in enrollment in degree and non-credit-bearing online programs it offers through the Gies College of Business in partnership with Coursera.  The vice president of the online learning platform Udemy, Shelly Osborne, is quoted as saying that enrollment of corporate learners for the Udemy for Business course on telecommuting increased by 21,598 percent.   Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, stated that they saw a 400 percent increase in registered users since mid-March compared to the same period last year. Adam Medros, co-CEO of edX, reported a similar pattern.   Despite the spike in enrollments, an edX survey published in June this year revealed that Americans had conflicting views about their future education and career decisions. Of the respondents, 56 percent said they were interested in pursuing additional education but could not because of cost and time constraints. Keeping this in view, the edX announcement of June 11 this year says it offers “an innovative suite of stackable, modular credentials – including MicroMasters® Programs, Professional Certificate Programs, MicroBachelors® Programs – that deliver meaningful career impact flexibly and affordably.”  The move towards offering stackable credentials began after the December 2010 advisory of the US Department of Labor on strategies to increase the rate of credential attainment among workforce program participants and improve the quality of those credentials. The advisory defined a stackable credential as “part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help them to move along a career pathway or up a career ladder to different and potentially higher-paying jobs.”  For example, a student can stack a high school diploma with an associate degree and a two-year postsecondary education to obtain a bachelor’s degree. A student can also stack an interim pre-apprenticeship certificate, complete an apprenticeship, and then earn a degree or advanced certification.  The idea of stackable credentials is to enable students who cannot afford the time and cost involved in obtaining a degree to continue their education while they work. Thus, students can obtain a short-term certification for a skill that will help them gain employment and continue their education to stack credentials toward obtaining a degree.   Stackable credentials afford students the flexibility to either  Work part-time while they continue their education Work full-time while they continue their education part-time Take a break from employment and continue their education full-time for the next level of certification  While the benefits of stackable credentials for students are easily discernible, many community and technical colleges that offer short-term certificates and diplomas face a challenge in redesigning their programs to align with industry certifications. For this, they need to build strong partnerships with regional industries and government agencies that will help them obtain human, financial, and political resources.   Colleges that find local industry is not hiring their graduates need to begin a conversation with the industry to find out their needs. They will probably find that the industry needs people with certain skills, and they need them fast. The graduates either do not have the specific skills the industry needs or the wait for them to join the workforce is too long. Rather than wait for graduates from colleges, the industry often begins recruiting and training the people it needs.   A conversation with industry can help the colleges design short-term industry-certified courses with stacked credentials. For example, colleges could collaborate with the industry to design foundational courses for basic skills that could make their students quickly employable while designing other courses for advanced skills that can be

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ui-testing
Devika Deshpande Devika May 30, 2023 No Comments

Challenges in UI Testing and How to Fix Them

User interface (UI) testing is an essential part of the software testing cycle. In UI testing, all interface components are tested to validate if the applications have the expected functionalities and if they are user-friendly. In this way, the tester gets to ensure not only the quality of the application but also the comfort of the user while using the application. UI testing typically involves testing the visual components to see if they meet the expected functional and performance requirements.  This translates into testing all visual indicators and graphical icons, such as radio buttons, checkboxes, text boxes, toolbars, fonts, menus, colors, fonts, and more. UI testing can be performed manually or with an automated tool.  Table of Contents: Reasons for UI Testing Approaches to UI Testing Challenges in UI Testing UI Testing Checklist Conclusion Reasons for UI Testing UI testing is relevant for two reasons: First, checking how the application manages user actions undertaken using the mouse, keyboard, and other input devices. Second, check whether the visual elements are displayed and working correctly. This helps the organizations ensure that the applications meet their functional requirements and also that the end-users will use them with comfort and ease. Therefore, UI testing plays a significant role before the release of a production application. The following are checked in UI testing: Functionality Usability Visual Design Performance Compliance  Approaches to UI Testing Manual testing: A tester performs a set of operations to check if the application functions properly and if it conforms to the specified requirements. In this testing, the tester has to manually use all the features of the website or app to check for discrepancies. This is feasible if the software has a limited number of UI elements, which is usually found in the initial version of a website or app. However, this is not possible towards the closing stages, when thousands of UI elements need to be verified. Manual testing is therefore time-consuming, highly prone to human error, inefficient, and has very poor test coverage. Also, the test coverage is very low. The quality of testing in this method depends entirely on the knowledge and skills of the testing team. Automated testing: In this testing, tests are done faster, which is useful to meet user expectations of speed. For instance, with automated Selenium testing, the software can be put through multiple test scenarios, and the same tests can be run repeatedly, even with different variables, if necessary: all this can be done quickly and correctly. Also, these tests are not prone to human error. Multiple tests do not cause exhaustion either. The accuracy of the test results is purely dependent upon the correctness of the test scripts and the usage of the right tools. Test automation frameworks also automatically record results and share them with the team once tests are done. UI tests should be performed on multiple device-browser-OS combinations. And, instead of manually running UI tests on multiple devices and browsers, the testers simply need to design test cases that do the same. Record and replay testing: This testing is executed using automation tools. The automated UI testing tool records the actions and interactions with the application and then reproduces them and compares them with the expected behavior. The replay phase is repeated for further testing.  Model-based testing: In this, graphical models are built that describe a system’s behavior. As this provides a deeper understanding of the system, it leads to the generation of efficient test cases. In the models, the inputs and outputs of the system are determined, which in turn are used to run the tests. The steps of this testing are: Creating a model for the system Determining the system inputs Verifying the expected output Executing tests Checking/validating system output vs. the expected output This model excels because of its high level of automation and greater test coverage. Also Read: A Beginner’s Guide to UI and UX: What You Need to Know Challenges in UI Testing While performing UI tests, testers face many challenges which include but are not limited to the following: Continuous upgrades: Upgrading constantly to accommodate new features and functionalities means performing comprehensive UI tests is challenging. Increasing complexity: Modern applications have highly complex features such as complex flowcharts, maps, embedded frames, diagrams, and other web elements. This in turn makes UI testing more challenging. UI tests become time-consuming: Typically, creating effective UI test scripts and executing the tests is time-consuming. Maintaining the test scripts: When developers make changes to the user interface, it becomes challenging to maintain the UI test scripts. Multiple error handling: While performing complex UI tests, especially under tight timelines, testers are preoccupied with creating scripts, and fixing errors during the testing becomes a challenge. Computing the ROI: As the UI keeps changing, so do the tests. This in turn causes the amount of time spent on UI testing to spike, consequently delaying the delivery process. And, eventually, it becomes very challenging to calculate the ROI for continuously performing UI tests. Here are some ways to overcome these UI testing challenges: Selecting the right UI test automation tool: Choosing the right automation tool that, first and foremost, blends seamlessly with the workflow is recommended. Also, it should be low maintenance, it should have record/playback capabilities and defect tracking capabilities, and it should support reporting. Automation tools without codes: By leveraging the power of codeless automation testing tools, developers, and QA one can avoid repeating changes in the test code. Using a shared repository: To reduce test maintenance and its costs, a shared repository can be used.  Organizational coding culture and review standards: Organizations should train their teams on the most efficient test automation practices so that there are specific criteria for code review or modifications across the enterprise. UI Testing Checklist Here is a checklist of tests (though not exhaustive) to enable testers to test the interfaces thoroughly.  Data type errors: Ensure that only valid data can be entered for specific data types: e.g. currency, dates, etc. Set field widths: If a certain text box permits only a specified amount of characters, then

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