By Izabelle King
Assessment is a crucial part in many students’ learning processes. Using a single method to assess every student’s ability and knowledge can be harmful to both their sense of self-worth and their retention of content and ideas. A one-size-fits-all assessment can also provide inaccurate information about their progress. Multiple means of assessment can better demonstrate a student’s knowledge.
Project-based assessments
Incorporating multiple means of assessment in your classroom can be difficult but will allow your students to grow in your classroom. Project-based assessments are a way to add additional ways by which to assess student achievement, allowing students to show their knowledge in a creative way. Project-based assessments have the added benefit of keeping students engaged in what they are learning.
Portfolio assessments
Offering students the opportunity to create a comprehensive portfolio of what they have learned throughout the year is yet another measure of their growth. Portfolios can include anything students have worked on. They give the students a way to consider their own growth as they learn.
Class discussions and oral presentations
Finally, class discussions or oral presentations give students an opportunity to talk about their knowledge. Students can articulate their thoughts, while showing communication skills and engaging with other classmates. This can help students of all learning styles.
As students participate in a whole class discussion, they are able to bounce ideas off each other and learn new things. Oral presentations give students an opportunity to practice their presentation skills, while talking about a subject in which they have gained knowledge.
Multiple means of assessment allow every student to show what they know, in a way that best suits them and continues the learning process. Whether its project-based assessments or oral presentations, each assessment type will allow for a broader range of learners to be nurtured.
Izabelle King is a student at Rider University and represents NJEA Preservice on the NJEA Instruction Committee.