Online Teaching Assessment Handbook
Assessment Overview
The Online Teaching Assessment is an evidence-based performance designed for
candidates seeking an endorsement to add to the Arkansas educator license. The
online teaching endorsement is an exception area endorsement and requires an
approved program of study along with this assessment.
With the most recent changes in education delivery and adding this endorsement, you
recognize the importance of multiple modes of delivery for learning. To complete this
assessment, you will be expected to demonstrate the skills to plan and prepare lessons
for learning, develop online content and activities for student engagement, show
evidence of communication skills with stakeholders, and write a syllabus.
The assessment consists of four topics that are defined later in this manual.
Before beginning the assessment, review the handbook, rubric, and learning
management system tutorials.
This assessment will allow you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge for online
teaching and instructional development based on National Standards for Quality Online
Teaching.NSQOL
Testing Windows
Three separate 6-week testing windows will be available each year during the spring,
summer, and fall. Grading reports will be issued 4-6 weeks after the closing of each
testing window.
Registration
The full assessment fee is $250. A retake fee per section is $75.
Scoring Reports to Candidates
Scoring reports will be emailed to candidates with details of passing/failing scores.
Candidates must score proficient in the topic to pass that section. Candidates can
retake topic areas that did not receive a proficient score during one of the next testing
windows. Candidates can register for retakes during any testing window up to one year
from the initial testing.
General Design
The Online Teaching performance assessment consists of four topics in which the
candidate will demonstrate best practices in online teaching components of planning,
designing, communicating, and reflecting. You may complete this assessment in any
order that works best for you. For example, you can begin at Topic 2 or Topic 3. Each
topic may include written planning and reflection, course-building demonstration, and
uploading artifacts. Sample lesson plans have been included as examples to develop
your lesson plans. These resources are provided to you to help you as you begin
building your course. See below:
● Class Demographics
● Sample Lesson Plans
● Student Completed Quizzes
● Introduction Forum with Student Responses
This assessment will be completed in two separate workspaces within the learning
management system (LMS). The purpose is to ensure the validity of the submission of
work. Within the LMS, you will be enrolled in two separate courses listed in the “My
Courses” menu tab. You will submit the required artifacts and reflections in Course 1 -
Online Teaching Assessment. Course 2 - Your Last Name, the second course, is where
you will develop your course. Each of the components and activities listed below also
indicates in which course you will submit it.
The learning targets, activities, and layout of the assessment are as follows:
Topic 1 - Course Preparation
Learning Targets:
● The online teacher demonstrates planning for effective online instruction.
● The online instructor demonstrates the evidence-based science of learning.
● The online teacher plans a learning environment to meet the needs of diverse
learners.
○ Activity 1: Planning the Online Lesson
○ Activity 2: Planning the Online Lesson
○ Activity 3: Accessibility
○ Activity 4: Individualizing Student Plans
Topic 2 - Course Development
Learning Targets:
● The online teacher demonstrates evidence-based elements of online instruction.
○ Activity 1: Building the Course
○ Activity 2:Digital Citizenship
○ Activity 3: Developing a Synchronous Session
○ Activity 4: Synchronous Lesson
○ Activity 5: Providing Feedback
○ Activity 6: Reflecting on the Course Development
Topic 3 - Communicating with Stakeholders
Learning Target:
● The online teacher will use a host of communication tools to interact with
teachers, cohorts, administrators, and other stakeholders to build relationships.
● The online teacher will use a host of communication tools to encourage
collaboration among stakeholders. (teachers, students, administrators)
○ Activity 1: Building Rapport with Students
○ Activity 2: Rapport
○ Activity 3: Identify Additional Stakeholders
○ Activity 4: Develop a Plan for Effective Communication Among
Stakeholders
○ Activity 5: Reflecting on Communication Among Stakeholders
Topic 4 - Syllabus Submission
● Activity 1: Submission of Syllabus
Scoring/Grading/Calculations
Each topic will be scored individually using the rubric provided. Scores will range from 0-3 for
each element of the topic. The passing score for each topic will be an average of 60%. Please
see the rubric for the total points possible and the points needed to pass each topic. Please
refer to the rubric.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty or academic misconduct is any type of cheating that occurs in relation to a
formal academic exercise. It can include
● Plagiarism: The use of another person's work without proper citation.
● Fabrication: The falsification of data information or citations.
● Cheating: Using someone else’s work as your own.
Syllabus Activity
The Syllabus activity is an ongoing process and will be submitted as a final Syllabus
Submission artifact in pdf file format at the end of the course. You may begin developing
the syllabus at any point, but the completion of the syllabus must be submitted by the
end of the testing window.
Lesson Plan
A lesson plan is a teacher’s guide of concepts and learning goals for what students
need to learn. An effective online lesson plan includes standard(s), skills, grouping,
activities, materials, differentiation, digital tools, and desired outcomes for
interconnected learning. A lesson plan template is provided as a reference.
Lesson Plan Template
Additional Support & Resources
Terms you need to know.
● Synchronous learning - is online or distance education that happens in real
time, often with a set class schedule and required login times.
● Asynchronous learning - does not require real-time interaction; instead,
content is available online for students to access when it best suits their
schedules and assignments are completed to deadlines.
● Accessibility - In the context of online courses, accessibility means making it
possible for all students, regardless of physical or developmental impairment, to
use all course materials and tools. Accessible design is often included under the
larger umbrella of “universal design for learning” because it considers all possible
users.
Examples of 504 Modification Plans
Accessibility Guidelines
Access and Accessibility in Online Learning
Artifact File Submissions
Please ensure all documents submitted are in PDF format as addressed in the
assessment. For your reference, we have added step-by-step instructions to help you
convert a Microsoft Word document or a Google Docs to a PDF format:
Microsoft Word to PDF Guide | Google Docs to PDF Guide
Please click the link to see instructions on recording for Zoom or Google Meet.
How to record on Zoom
How to record on Google Meet
Canvas Docs
Please refer to the document link below.
Canvas Help Guide
If you have any questions, please contact
Steven.W[email protected]
