Assessments are evaluations of student learning that are used to measure their understanding of the course materials and their mastery of the skills and knowledge being taught. They can take a variety of forms, including exams, quizzes, essays, projects, presentations, and more.
The Six-Step Assessment Process
To create assessments that best support the learning outcomes for your course, click the tabs below and follow each step.
Step One: Align assessments with course objectives and outcomes.
Assessments should be directly mapped to course objectives and outcomes, ensuring students are being tested on the knowledge and skills they are expected to gain. These activities should be designed to measure student understanding and mastery of specific course objectives.
Learn more via the Create Meaningful Objectives and Outcomes guide.
Step Two: Consider a variety of assessment methods.
There are a variety of assessment methods that can be used in a course – from exams to essays, projects, presentations, quizzes, and more. Having a variety of assessment activities can provide a more comprehensive view of student learning, allowing you to test different skills and abilities.
A variety of assessment methods can also help accommodate different student strengths and preferences when it comes to learning. For example, some students may excel in an exam format, while others do better on research-based projects.
When planning assessments, consider that different assessment methods may be better suited for certain goals and outcomes. For example, research papers or presentations may be appropriate for assessing written and oral communication skills, while exams may be more appropriate for measuring knowledge of specific course content.
Explore the following assessment types that can be incorporated:
Step Three: Write clear and concise assessments.
Assessment activities should be well-organized and easy to follow. Students should have a clear understanding up-front of what is expected of them. This includes clarifying the content that will be covered, the format of the assessment, and any specific requirements or guidelines.
Consider these best practices when writing assessment activities:
- Use clear and concise instructions for each question or task to reduce student confusion and ensure students can focus on the content of the assessment.
- Use simple and direct language when writing questions to avoid misinterpretation.
- Provide examples of the types of questions and tasks that will be included in the assessment activity to clarify expectations up-front.
- Whenever possible, provide practice opportunities for students to build their confidence and ensure they are prepared for the actual assessment.
Step Four: Provide opportunities for self-assessment.
Consider adding self-assessment activities into the course that allow students to reflect on their own performance and learning. This can increase student engagement and motivation, giving students ownership over their own learning. Examples of activities include writing reflections, keeping a learning journal, or participating in class discussions.
Step Five: Provide timely and meaningful feedback.
Feedback should be specific, relevant, and timely. Ideally, feedback should be provided within a week of the assessment. This can help students quickly understand their strengths and weaknesses, and make adjustments to their learning as needed.
Consider these best practices for providing feedback on assessments:
- Address both the content of the assessment and the process of how the student arrived at the answer.
- Focus on the process of learning, not just the final product to help students understand the steps they took to arrive at the solution and how they can improve their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
- Be specific and actionable, providing clear information on what the student did well and what needs to be improved.
- Build on the student’s strengths, highlighting what they did well and how they can continue to improve.
Step Six: Continuously review and revise assessments.
Regularly reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness of assessments can help you determine whether they are supporting student learning and the achievement of course outcomes. Making continual and strategic changes can also keep assessments current and relevant.
Examples of collecting data include gathering feedback from students, analyzing student performance data, and observing student behavior and engagement.
Based on the data collected, you can then revise your assessments as needed to improve their effectiveness. This could involve changes to the format or content of the activity, adding new tasks or questions, or providing additional opportunities for practice.
By following these steps, you can create assessments that effectively support student learning and help students achieve course outcomes.