Assessment in higher education is more than measuring what students can recall. Using varied approaches and innovative technologies, instructors balance workload, give timely feedback and gain insights to improve learning. Questions such as how students demonstrate outcomes, which assessment methods fit best and what technologies to use help shape effective strategies. Explore our eXplore Assessment page for Memorial resources that support this work.

What is Assessment?

Assessment in higher education takes many forms, but at its core, it measures what learners know and can do. Beyond evaluating individual achievement, it also provides insight into the effectiveness of a course, program or curriculum by showing whether students have gained the intended knowledge and skills.

As the field evolves, assessment has shifted toward authentic contexts that prepare students with the abilities they need for future success. Thoughtful assessment and feedback can transform teaching and learning, strengthen engagement for students and instructors, and spark innovative practices.

This collection of CITL resources and services helps explore key questions, such as:

• Which assessment methods align with my learning outcomes?
• How can I communicate effectively with students about assessments?
• When should I use technology tools in course evaluations?
• What resources can I share to prepare students for success?

To support these questions and more, our Assessment resources are organized according to CITL’s Lines of Innovation—a framework for flexible and modern learning environments, inspiring and empowered instruction, responsive and reputable programming, and engaged and successful learning.

• Student Learning Solutions
• Professional Development in Teaching
• Curriculum and Course Design
• Learning Environments and Technologies

Student Learning Solutions

Proactive and evidence-based resources and services for students in support of their teaching and learning success.

Academic Success Centre's Learning Supports

This collection, curated by the ASC, helps students connect with academic supports and services on the St. John's campus. Available supports include Accessibility Services, which ensures students are aware of and receive timely and appropriate academic accommodations for assessments. 

Academic Success Centre's Learning Skills Resources

The ASC's collection of learning skills resources can help students achieve success by creating new strategies to target common challenges they face throughout a semester.

Academic Success Centre's Learning Skills Series

The ASC's online sessions on learning-skills topics, offered each semester, help students develop the academic skills they need for success, including preparation for assessments.

Professional Development in Teaching

Educator learning opportunities that enhance teaching effectiveness, foster the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), grow educational leadership and build community.

Assessment YouTube Playlist

This playlist collects all of CITL's videos related to assessment, including webinars and conference presentations. New videos will be added as they become available. View the playlist on YouTube.

Instructor Series

CITL's Instructor Series is a semester of webinars hosted by instructors for instructors. Our lineup for Fall 2025 includes topics related to assessment. Visit our events calendar for more information and registration.

Learning Technology Series

CITL's Learning Technology Series is a semester of webinars for instructors, hosted by CITL technical staff and learning technology coaches. Topics cover a variety of supported learning technologies to assist instructors with the effective use of technology in teaching, including those related to assessment. Visit our events calendar for more information and registration.

Curriculum and Course Design

Curriculum and course design processes to support the proactive development of programs and courses that inspire positive learning experiences.

Assessment Strategies

This CITL resource outlines assessment strategies available within the Brightspace environment. 

Balancing Learning, Feedback and Workload

This CITL resource covers designing assessments that enable instructors to provide quality feedback for students, with considerations for frequency and variety of feedback.

Bulletproofing Online Assessments

This CITL resource explains how assessments can be designed and implemented to increase validity and reduce cheating.

Considerations for Constructing an Exam

This CITL resource provides instructors with key information about factors to consider when constructing examinations.

Creating a Peer Review Assignment

This CITL resource shares guidance for designing a peer review assignment.

Creating and Using Rubrics

This CITL resource outlines the benefits and challenges of creating and using a rubric.

Decision-making Flowchart

A visual flowchart designed to help instructors decide how to design an online exam, based on different considerations.

End-of-course Assessment Options

This CITL resource outlines alternatives to using final exams for assessment at the end of a course.

High-stakes and Low-stakes Assessment

This CITL resource helps instructors understand the differences between high-stakes and low-stakes assessments.

Open Book Assessments

This CITL resource provides information on the use of open book assessments.

One-on-one Consultations

CITL's Educational Developers and Instructional Designers can provide insight on alternate forms of assessment for remote teaching, including review of planned assessments and guidance on achieving assessment goals. Contact CITL's Support Centre to request a consultation on assessment strategies.

Promoting Academic Integrity Through Assessment Design

This CITL resource covers ways to promote academic integrity by communicating with students in person or through the syllabus, through assessment design and through information literacy.

Question Types in Brightspace

This CITL resource explains the different question types available for exams in Brightspace.

Resources to Help Create or Use Rubrics

This CITL resource provides a collection of resources on creating and using rubrics.

Steps for Creating a Rubric

This CITL resource outlines the steps to create a rubric.

Types of Rubrics

This CITL resource explains the different types of rubrics.

Learning Environments and Technologies

Leadership on the thoughtful assessment, design and integration of learning spaces, technologies and instructional strategies that support all modes of delivery.

Assignment Tool Quick Guide

An overview of the Assignment tool in Brightspace, which provides an alternative to an open-ended questions exam.

Instructions for Grade Submissions in Assignments

A guide to using the Assignment tool to receive and grade assignment submissions in Brightspace.

Student Presentations Quick Guide

An overview of how student presentations can be assigned and delivered within Online Rooms in Brightspace.

Quiz Tool Quick Guide

An overview of the Quiz tool in Brightspace, which has several available question formats and features that enable variety and randomization in online assessments.

Using the Groups Tool

An overview of the Groups tool in Brightspace, which allows instructors to create work areas for discussion groups and organize work on projects and assignments. 

Video Assignments Quick Guide

An overview of the Video Assignment tool within Online Rooms in Brightspace, which enables video creation without specialized software. This tool can be used for online courses that require oral exams or demonstrations to assess competency.