Objective assessment: Is it testing only?

Tests are one way to objectively assess a student’s knowledge or growth, but I have always believed that many alternative methods can have the same value or more than a test. Many students do not test well, and assessing their knowledge by only a test would not be a fair assessment of that student's learning/knowledge. 

Following is a list of alternative methods for assessing knowledge or skill from a student. 

  

Electronic  Portfolios

A student portfolio is a collection of the student's work or creations--these are known as artifacts. When collected over time, the portfolio shows student growth, achievement, and learning. Portfolios in an electronic format are easier to share with other teachers or prospective employers.

Electronic Student Response Systems

By posing questions to student who respond with clickers or student response systems instructors may perform formative assessments in real time. Students are more likely to answer because they have the feeling of anonymity. The data is stored, so teachers can determine the concepts that are causing difficulty. 

A summative assessment may be given via student response systems; and though technically it is a test, the format is different from common tests.

Having students create projects--graded by rubrics.

When a project is graded by a rubric the subjectivity is reduced and the assessment becomes more objective. Students can compare their work before and after submission to the rubric.

     Videotaping student presentation or performances:        

Music or dance performances may be best assessed with video. Other  projects and presentations may be assessed with video and the video becomes a permanent record of the presentation or performance. Medical professionals are often assessed in simulations with video--the professional can see how he / she performed.