Objective Assessments of Student Learning

Are Tests the Only Types of Objective Assessment?

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It seems that as educators, each year we are required to give our students more and more tests to assess their ability to achieve, as well as our own ability to teach.  We have standardized state tests (also know as High-Stakes Testing), benchmark tests, unit tests, chapter tests, etc.  But are these tests the only way to assess student learning? I would have to say that even though these types of tests are important, they are not the only acceptable form of objective assessment.  

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Depending on the content being assessed, there are numerous ways to determine whether our students are making the grade. Summaries and reports can be used as a type of assessment, and can be either oral or written.  Students can use their creativity to develop a presentation using Powerpoint, Prezi, or Google Slides to share their information with their teacher and classmates.  Students can design websites, respond to blog posts, or create eBooks to show whether they have a clear understanding for what they have learned. Running experiments and completing lab reports show growth in students, as well. Students can utilize programs like Inspiration and Kidspiration to create concept maps.  By being able to link related concepts together, they are proving that they understand the curriculum. When students are involved in research projects, they can be assessed using a rubric at a number of checkpoints throughout their research that demonstrate the progress they are making. These are not the only types of assessments, but they are a start.

All of the different types of assessments mentioned above can be used to determine a student's performance and growth.  They can assess individuals, partners, or collaborative groups. Not one is a traditional test. These assessments allow students to be creative and think outside of the box.  They promote critical-thinking skills that are sometimes overlooked in a traditional test.  They, also, allow students who are not good test takers to have the chance to succeed.