Assessment Techniques
Are you getting tired of the same old assessment techniques? Here are some different ways you can assess student progress and achievements throughout the day.
Clipboard Observation
You already walk around the room monitoring students as they work in groups or on individual assignments, so why not take it a step further and use your observations for assessment purposes? Students are more likely to show depth of knowledge when conversing with others. As teachers, we know that a group of students talking often means a group of students off task. However, when placing students in a group to work, we also increase their chances of having meaningful conversation about the lesson or unit. As the teacher, it is our duty to continually monitor, not only their behavior, but also their work and conversations.
An easy way to keep track of what students are and are not doing is by using a clipboard. You can do this in two ways:
1. Use index cards (best for elementary teachers)
2. Use a spreadsheet (best for middle & high school teachers)
Using Index Cards
- Tape one index card for each student on the clipboard. You want to tape the top of each card vertically along the clipboard.
- Write each student’s name (in some order – by row or table, OR alphabetically) one on a card.
- For each observation, date the entry and make a short, but detailed, statement of what you just observed. Only record notable incidents in both behavior & academics.
Clear and Unclear Windows
Have students fold a piece of paper into two or more sections. Label half of the paper as “Clear Windows” and the other half as “Unclear Windows”. In the clear window boxes students write what they have learned and understand about the concept or skill. In the unclear window boxes students write about the concepts or skills they don’t understand or need clarification. This will provide you with information which will help you plan for future lessons.
Semantic or Mind Map
Students place the main topic or concept in a circle in the middle of a piece of paper. Each detail about the concept is then a branch off of the main circle. Each of those branches may have further information which would mean another branch of connecting facts or details. Using this as an assessment can show you how a student’s knowledge is organized in his or her brain, or if they don’t understand the concept at all. Students can either draw pictures to represent the information, or use words. This provides an outlet for both left and right brain learners.
Checklist
When students have a lengthy assignment, a helpful tool for teachers to use when evaluating student progress is to have a checklist. Due dates can be given for each item along the way, or the teacher can request to see the checklist along with the corresponding work at the end of the project. A checklist also helps you express your exact expectations for student work.
Source: http://www.inspiringteachers.com/classroom_resources/tips/assessment/alternative_assessment_techniques.htm
Editor: Michael R. Clarke
