Claireann,
Congratulations on your certification. This will help you in the future as you begin to teach online.
Your input is right on target. Online instructors need to know where their students are coming from - what they know. A pre-test is a good way to do that. And, then you can give a post-test to evaluate what they have learned.
Communicating your expectations whether through the syllabus or in other ways is invaluable. Assessment that is meaningful and relevant is essential as well.
Thanks for your input.
