Abstract: Assessment data provides invaluable information for the success of distance education students. Students, who are taking online courses for the first time, may often feel intimidated, isolated and lost in the untraditional nature of the online learning environment. Online instructors should conduct formative and summative evaluations during and after the course to determine possible needs of the students that might not have been explicitly expressed during the online learning and teaching activities. This paper is to share our experiences in using assessment data obtained in 2004-2005 academic year to improve the quality of online instruction, and to restructure instruction to accommodate students’ needs.