Assessment Methods in Education

Assessment

• Assessment is the process of collecting qualitative and/or quantitative data to make a decision
• Assessment for learning uses assessment to identify student needs to adapt instruction or learning activities
• Assessment of learning is a systematic process of collecting, analysing, and interpreting evidence of student learning to make decisions about learners
• Traditional Assessment uses conventional strategies and tools to evaluate student learning, typically including objective (multiple choice) and subjective (essay) paper-and-pencil tests
• Alternative Assessment uses non-traditional strategies or tools to assess student learning; examples include performance- and product-oriented methods
• Alternative Assessment tasks involve students performing tasks or creating products, focusing on applying learned knowledge and skills
• Portfolio Assessment involves students systematically creating and maintaining portfolios to document learning progress and achievements
• Portfolios collect learning and performance artifacts

Performance Rubrics and Rating Scales

• Performance Rubrics and Rating Scales, and Checklists, are alternative assessment strategies used to evaluate non-cognitive learning outcomes like psychomotor and affective skills
• Performance Rubrics and Rating Scales use self-assessment and peer assessment to evaluate student learning
• Performance Rubrics and Rating scales encompass psychomotor (practical skills) and affective (attitudes, values) outcomes

Educational Objectives

• Educational objectives are specific learner performance statements at the end of an instructional period
• Educational objectives are sometimes called behavioral objectives
• Educational objectives are usually expressed using action verbs
• Examples of action verbs include "receiving," "responding," "valuing"

Types of Learning Targets

• Learning targets include knowledge, reasoning, skills, products, and affective targets
• Skills refer to learning targets relating to demonstrated abilities
• Products entail learning targets linked to created outputs
• Affect/Disposition describes non-cognitive learning attributes, such as motivation, interest

Performance Assessment

• Performance assessment involves tasks
• Performance assessment is performance-based
• Performance assessment is product-based

Product-Based Assessment

• Product-based assessment focuses on creating products
• Product-based assessment involves visual and kinesthetic products
• Product-based assessment also includes written and verbal products

Performance-Based Assessment

• Includes oral presentations, demonstrations
• Includes dramatic/creative performances
• Includes public speaking, athletic skills demonstrations

Assessment Criteria

• Criteria for evaluating student work, including content, process, quality and impactful aspects

Types of Assessment Activities

• Traditional assessment activities include multiple-choice tests and memorization tasks
• Authentic assessment activities involve tasks and situations representative of real-world applications

Sources of SLOs

• Institution mission
• Basic general education competencies
• Government policies and standards
• Other professions' competencies, thrusts, and development goals of national government
• International trends and development strategies