Standardized testing shows a student’s performance on one day out of the year. Fair assessment techniques would take into account what a student has learned, how far they’ve come, what they actually know about the topic and if whether they learn from their mistakes. Fair assessment strategies would also help teachers devise instructional plans that benefit student learning over time rather than preparing for performance on one test. Here are some ways to achieve great results.
Many online curriculum programs use a “stealth assessment.” That is, they record every answer a student gives as they’re learning new concepts. If a student needs more practice, the program delivers it. When the student is ready for something more challenging, the program adapts the questions. This data is collected to show progress on skills students have both mastered and those which they still need to practice.
Measuring reading skills with a multiple-choice test seems odd in the context of real life. When was the last time, as an adult, you read something and were asked to fill in bubbles to answer questions about themes or characters? Adults read and discuss books with others, then apply new ideas from the texts to their lives and work. Testing a student’s application of skills and knowledge means that they can show depth of understanding.
Portfolios allow students to collect evidence of learning over time. It is a way for students to show how they’ve mastered a skill. Portfolios and performances also speak to a student’s individual learning and expression styles.
If you’re already working in the classroom, you know the weaknesses of standardized testing. To learn more about how Grand Canyon University’s College of Education provides teachers with the latest educational research and methods through programs like our Master of Science in Instructional Technology degree, visit our website or click the Request More Information Button on this page.