Alternative Assessments | Respondus | Seneca Polytechnic

Before deciding to use Respondus, take into consideration the following concerns with using online proctoring solutions:

• Respondus may not meet all accessibility needs.
• Students have privacy concerns over the information collected.
• Students will experience higher anxiety and stress which will impact their success on the assessment/exam.
• Equitable practices are not possible (for example, not all students have a webcam, stable internet connection, a private room where they will not be interrupted, etc.). 
• Lack of technology assistance for students during the assessment/exam.

To address these concerns, Seneca recommends that instructors explore other assessment alternatives to online proctored exams.

Open-book/Take-home Assessments 

It may seem like open-book assessments may not be as academically rigorous as closed-book evaluations, but research has shown that these types of assessments can be beneficial. Open-book tests can reduce reliance on technology and emphasis on memorization, focusing instead on critical thinking, problem solving and application of theories and concepts. In other words, the answers are not easily “Googleable”.  

Peer-Review Activities 

By soliciting peer feedback, students can develop skills in assessing and providing feedback to others. These type of activities also give students opportunities to self-assess and improve their own work. 

Group Projects 

Related to peer-review activities, group projects can be used as an effective summative assessment. Engaging in group work can help students build industry-ready skills like time management, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration. Consider using holistic rubrics for formative peer review assessments, as well as the summative assessment to help clarify expectations.  

Reflections, Group Discussions, Learning Portfolios, Presentations 

Graded reflections can take many different forms, like reflective writing, group discussions, learning portfolios, and presentations. Students can realize the connections between their learning experience and the course content. Reflections can also facilitate higher-order thinking by challenging students to connect their learning to the impact on their worldviews. 

Recommended Resource 

Please visit this resource for an in-depth look at rethinking online alternative assessments: Rethinking Assessment Strategies for Online Learning.