What are the best ways to use alternative assessment methods?

1 Define your goals

Before you choose an alternative assessment method, you need to define your learning goals and objectives. What do you want your students to know, understand, and be able to do by the end of the unit or course? How will you align your assessment with the curriculum standards and expectations? How will you communicate your goals and criteria to your students and parents? By clarifying your goals, you can select the most appropriate and effective assessment method for your purpose and context.

2 Choose your method

Alternative assessment methods can be used in the classroom to measure student learning and understanding. Portfolios, for example, are collections of student work that demonstrate growth, achievements, and reflections over time. Projects require students to apply their knowledge and skills to a real-world problem or question, while presentations are verbal or visual displays of learning and understanding to an audience. Performances demonstrate abilities and talents in a specific domain, such as music or drama. Self-assessments involve students evaluating their own work and progress based on criteria and standards, while peer-assessments are a process of evaluating each other's work.

4 Implement your assessment

Once you have chosen your alternative assessment method and designed your rubric, implementation in your classroom is the next step. This includes explaining the purpose and procedure of the assessment to students and parents, providing examples and models of high-quality work, and engaging students in the assessment process. You should also monitor and support student progress, collect and evaluate their work using the rubric, provide feedback and grades, and reflect on the effectiveness and impact of the assessment.

5 Adapt your assessment

No assessment method is perfect or suitable for every situation, so you may need to adapt yours according to the needs, interests, abilities, and backgrounds of your students. This could include differentiating the task, process, or product based on readiness, learning styles, or preferences; providing scaffolds, accommodations, or extensions; incorporating student voice and choice in the assessment topic, format, or criteria; revising rubrics or criteria based on input or performance; and using multiple or varied assessment methods. All of these changes can help you capture a broader range of skills and knowledge.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?