Constructivism in Assessment

What does a "constructivist test" look like?

There is no catch-all template for a constructivist test. Each assessment will look different depending on the teacher, the class and the students. It provides a unique opportunity to cater to the needs and focuses of the class. All constructivist assessments do share a number of characteristics, though:

• Open-ended questions: Either through writing, presentation or research, students have open ended questions to answer that build off of what they have learned and require them to apply their ideas
• Opportunities for reflection and metacognition: Whether it's asking students to pick a side and debate it, justify a decision, or share their opinion, students should have an opportunity to construct connections with their lives.
• Scaffolded preparation for the students: Nothing on the test should be a surprise. Don't add trick questions intended to confuse them. The purpose of assessments in general is to determine whether they have gained knowledge. We should be testing their knowledge, not their ability to solve a multi-part riddle to understand the question.

I have advocated for this type of assessment to be used in my classes and slowly we are seeing students acclimate to the structure and excel with it. The open-ended options of an essay assessment allow for great levels of accommodation and individualization for all students and can be easily modified to fit various Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 plans. This method greatly benefits students, teachers and parents of all types and takes into account various skill growths as well as baseline proficiencies.

This site will help you craft a very specific hybrid-style of assessment that focuses in on developing writing skills and allows for open ended reflection through the content. It helps students take their knowledge and bring it to another level of understanding.