Reconfiguring assessment practices and strategies in online education during the pandemic

The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the overhaul of the conduct of teaching and learning particularly in the assessment of learners during a time of crisis trapped in many structural and practical challenges. This study examines the assessment practices and strategies to protect its quality and integrity in the delivery of teaching and learning among higher education students at Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University, Zamboanga City, Philippines. This research employs a comprehensive and reliable survey questionnaire on the assessment practices and strategies for assessment, including its quality and integrity. A total of 300 students and teachers were purposefully selected for the study. Based on the findings, practical assessment and skill assessment were among the most widely employed strategies by the teachers. There was a need for skill development in distance learning which calls teachers to integrate it into skill assessment strategies. The study yields the current practices of the teachers in assessing the academic performances of the students, strategies to execute their assessment practices that comply with the health protocols, and strategies to safeguard the quality and integrity of these assessments despite the difficulties in the learning environment. This study is integral to extending the body of knowledge regarding the different assessment practices and strategies and how these influence the delivery of online education. Nevertheless, academic institutions should reconfigure their assessment practices in terms of which of these suits well their stakeholders.