There are common ways to organize online courses. Instructor-led courses, which are used at many online universities, rely on asynchronous forums, well-framed discussions, reading materials, and assignments.

The corporate world has the budget to indulge in a bit more multimedia--immersive courseware that's easy on the eyes and engages the learner with page-turning PowerPoints or videos. It's practical training, not philosophical discourse.

The e-learning market is starting to show signs of convergence. K12 teachers are discovering the power of self-paced coursework, while companies are wading into webinars and facilitated courses.

No matter the class, test-taking is the classic way to assess course outcomes--namely, what the learner was supposed to learn. Tests are the gatekeeping instruments that allow learners to pass through and get their certificate, continuing-ed credit, pay raise, or promotion. And love 'em or hate 'em, tests are efficient and familiar to e-learners.

EasyCampus can accommodate a number of assessment vehicles, including e-portfolios, surveys, and graded assignments. But along with our EasyCampus subscribers, we keep coming back to quizzes because they are relatively simple to create or import.

Within every EasyCampus is a very powerful quiz-making engine. It's possible to add a quiz after every module or only at the end of a course. With a bit of practice, we like to think that any teacher can become a test-making god (or goddess).

Some of the many quiz capabilities you'll find inside every EasyCampus:

• Randomized questions and answers
• Capability for one or multiple attempts
• Time limits on tests
• Feedback option after each question
• Adaptive learning potential
• Rendering of mathematical equations
• A bank of questions that can be used across courses
• Results tied to gradebooks and certificates

EasyCampus offers nearly a dozen question types, from true/false and multiple choice to more complex matching. It's worth the effort to play with this wonderful quiz-building engine. Or just ask our Customer Support team for a few tips and tricks.

Do you have a pre-existing test you want to bring into your course? That's easy enough. We can show you how to import quizzes from popular course authoring tools.

Remember that online tests are just one way to evaluate the success of an online class. But it's a cost-effective tool for many course developers, and, if well-constructed, can pay dividends far into the future.