Assessment
The Evidence
Assessment of student learning is the systematic and ongoing process of gathering and interpreting learning evidence to improving student learning experiences (Angelo, 1995). Assessing student learning within a course includes:
diagnosing what students already know when entering the course/lessons,
providing feedback to move students’ progress towards learning outcomes during the course/lessons, and
determining what students have learned and how well students meet the course expectations at the end of the course.
As you are designing assessment activities or making assessment decisions, we recommend the following assessment principles.
In 1972, The Gallatin School of Individualized Study was founded. It's students designed unique courses of study, exploring multiple disciplines or specific areas of study not available in traditional departments.
Taken from: The History of NYU.
Assessment Alignment
Align assessment activities with learning outcomes to ensure assessments and instructional activities work together to maximize student achievement on specified learning outcomes.
Assessment BluePrint
Build a balanced assessment blueprint to provide students with the motivational incentives for higher stakes assessments while offering ongoing lower stakes assessments that serve to deepen learning.
AssessmenT Strategies
Emphasize authentic assessment activities that mirror or link to workplace requirements. This helps to ensure students are able to transfer academic skills to a careers.
Using Rubrics
Use rubrics to clarify learning exceptions as well as implement meaningful and consistent grading.
Formative low stakes assessments are a powerful tool for students to measure their own understanding of course materials. For instructors, it highlights the concepts that might need deeper reinforcement.
To register for a NEXUS Assessment Strategies webinar, please visit the toolkit's Training & Support page.