Alternative assessment

Alternative assessments measure performance in forms other than traditional paper-and-pencil, short answer tests. This article provides an extended explanation of alternative assessments, including a variety of examples.

By Jennifer Job

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• Learn more about alternative assessments and assessment.

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Alternative assessments measure performance in forms other than traditional paper-and-pencil, short answer tests.

These types of assessments focus on what students can do without emphasizing their weaknesses, especially in test-taking skills. Alternative assessments are not graded like standardized tests are. Rather than counting the number of right and wrong responses, these assessments give a holistic picture of a student’s abilities and highlight where further improvement is needed. They give the student a chance to demonstrate the depth and scope of learning without being limited to narrow questions or make-or-break tests. Often, alternative assessments are utilized for students with learning disabilities who have difficulties performing on standardized tests.

Popular forms of alternative assessment include:

Essays

If a student has difficulty with standardized verbal assessments, writing an essay may be a better way for her to exhibit her comprehension and skills. An essay can also show how a student thinks about a certain subject in more detail than multiple-choice or short-answer questions.

Portfolios

Most often used as replacements for end-of-course testing, portfolios exhibit the progression of a student’s learning over time. A teacher may create a portfolio compiling student essays, lab reports, or other assignments to demonstrate learning that a standardized test may not. Portfolios are typically attached to specific learning objectives and include a reflective piece by the student. Web 2.0 capabilities have allowed students to create and post portfolios online to share with other students and their teachers.

Presentations/demonstrations

These activities allow a teacher to observe his students performing the skills he is teaching. A science fair is a type of alternative assessment, as are choral performances. A math teacher may ask his students to design a bridge based on hypothetical dimensions he has provided.

Authentic assessments

This method attempts to create a real-world environment for students to exhibit their skills and knowledge. A biology teacher may have her students identify the different pollutants in a local stream to report to the local environmental protection agency as an authentic assessment.

When evaluating an alternative assessment, educators need methods to assess fairly and objectively. Often, they may use rubrics. A rubric is a scoring guide for non-quantified assessments such as portfolios and presentations. The rubric identifies quality work on the assignment and its criteria through descriptive language. For example, a rubric may state that “an acceptable essay contains fewer than four grammatical errors” or “a high-quality project displays every step taken in solving the problem.” Rubrics are also helpful for peer evaluations.

Resources for alternative assessments

• Alternative Assessment Primer from Teaching Today
• The Essentials of Language Teaching from the National Capital Language Resource Center
• National Alternative Assessment Center
• Using Technology to Support Alternative Assessment and Electronic Portfolios