There are many different types of assessments that teachers can use to analyze what their students have learned. Some of the most familiar are quizzes, tests, state-administered standardized tests, and essays. And while each of these relatively traditional forms of assessment has its place in a curriculum, many teachers are finding that they are limiting in other, important ways. This has prompted many teachers to design alternative assessments that they feel better match and evaluate the content of the instruction.
For example, fine arts courses may not be particularly well-suited to any of the traditional forms of assessment listed above. By contrast, asking a student to put on a performance, to create a portfolio, or to curate an exhibition might well help gauge just how well students have understood the central concerns of the course. Such forms of assessments are referred to as "authentic assessment" or, more neutrally, as "alternative assessment. " Authentic assessment strategies can be used in almost any types of courses, even those that more often use traditional forms of assessment.
Many teachers are now also experimenting with self-evaluation and peer-evaluation. Some educational theorists believe that students are more invested in their performance in the course when they know that they – and their peers – are actively involved in the overall assessment.
No matter the type of assessment, the following two best practices should guide all instructors' assessment strategies. First, instructors must create unambiguous expectations. Students cannot perform well on any assessment if, in the time leading up to the assessment, there is uncertainty surrounding just what is to be known or done. Second, instructors should be open to employing a wide range of assessment strategies. Instructors obviously reserve the right to utilize the assessment strategy of their choice. But they should recognize that different students succeed in different assessment venues, and, thereby, to try to incorporate a few different types of assessments over the course of a unit. By utilizing different assessment strategies, teachers can help students experience more success by tapping into their various learning styles.
Assessing Students
There are many strategies with which to assess students.