About the methods of the students competences analysis in distance and blended learning

Abstract

The rapid development of distance and blended learning formats poses a serious problem for instructors to objectively and reliably assess students’ knowledge. Modern learning management systems often do not provide comprehensive information about the quality of learning in a convenient form for the teacher. A brief review of the leading distance learning systems used in universities of the Russian Federation allows us to make sure of this. The capabilities of popular learning management systems, their advantages and disadvantages in processing information about students’ progress are analyzed. According to the results of the analysis, the necessity of further custom data processing becomes obvious.The methodology of evaluating the quality of students’ knowledge is shown in the example of an own development — the Abins.NET learning management system created at Perm National Research Polytechnic University. The necessity of using a minimum of two independent criteria for evaluating the quality of learning by conducting a correlation analysis between the grade, work time, and bonus points is confirmed.The comparison of bonus points accrual methods in own-developed learning management system, iSpring, and WebTutor was carried out and the conclusion was made about the necessity of automated bonus management (accrual, write-off) according to the criteria that are predetermined by the developer. The conclusions and suggestions on the selection of significant criteria and their calculation when working with any learning management system to assess the success of university students’ learning are formulated.