Traditional vs. Alternative Assessment

Tara Bernard, Theresa Kilpatrick and Sarah Arnold

Traditional vs. Alternative Assessment

What is the definition of assessment?

Assessment is the process of finding out how well students have mastered the curriculum.

Traditional AssessmentTests, quizzes, essaysBecame very popular in schools in the

80s when grades were based almost entirely on results of completing multiple choice items on classroom tests that were similar to standardized tests.

Research shows in some cases that there is very little relationship between such test grades, and any measure of students' ability to apply knowledge.

Traditional AssessmentThese types of tests (multiple

choice, similar to standardized tests) are very low on Bloom's taxonomy (recall).

They emphasize memory over more complex skills with a focus on grades and ranking.

Traditional (continued)Based on psychometric theories

of the 1950sIndividuals have/develop specific

and general abilities that can be measured by written tests and will predict / correlate in practice.

Traditional (continued)The formats of these items tend

to be very similar (ie> multiple choice)

The conditions under which the tests are given are also standardized (ie: amount of time, no talking).

Traditional (cont)Produce results that are

comparable between groups, (class to class) but it also tends to make testing highly artificial when compared to what scientists or anyone for that matter actually does in real life.

Alternative assessmentperformance based so sometimes

called “performance” assessment.Uses activities that reveal what

students can do, emphasizing their strengths instead of their weaknesses.

Alternative assessment instruments are by necessity designed and structured differently and are graded and scored differently

Alternative assessment:Students take more responsibility

for their learningTeacher and students assess

student problem-solving skills, not just the product

Human judgment is used for scoring

Higher level thinking

Alternative AssessmentWorks well in learner-centred

classrooms since they are based on the idea that students can evaluate their own learning and learn from the evaluation process.

A detailed scoring rubric is essential: evaluation criteria and standards are known to the student.

Involves interaction between the assessor (instructor/peers/self) and the person being assessed.

Alternative cont...Built around topics or issues of

interest to the studentsReplicate real world

communication contexts and situations

Involve multi-stage tasks and real problems that require creative use of language rather than simple repetition.

Require learners to produce a quality product or performance.

AlternativeAllow for self-regulation, self-

evaluation and self-correction.Methods include checklists,

portfolios, journals.....What, if any are the

disadvantages?

Alternative disadvantagesDifficult to assign a score to a single

student performance (relative to marking a multiple choice test for example)

Portfolios can be time consuming to evaluate for a teacher with a full course load

Comprehensive set of scoring guidelines (rubrics) must be developed in order to accurately judge completeness and quality (also time consuming).

Disadvantages to alternative assessmentsLack of use in traditional

educational institutions (universities)

Most instructors/teachers have no training to develop these types of assessments

difficult to develop and grade

In summary....Difficult to dismiss traditional

assessment entirelyIdeally a combination of both. That

way a teacher can address many learning styles, yet still prepares students for a university or exam experience.

Start slowly to implement alternative assessment strategies – it can’t be done overnight.

ImplicationsHow would these assessment

strategies effect classroom management?

Come up with 3 ideas at your tables.