Since assessment drives curriculum for many middle school teachers, the types of assessment they use in the classroom are as important as ever.
Depending upon the subject matter one teaches, having students grade papers in class can be a common occurrence. Some middle school teachers do use it as part of their instructional strategy; as they correct papers together, they take the errors found and turn them into teachable moments or, at least, reteaching opportunities. Other teachers grade papers in class as a result of time constraints, large class sizes, or other factors. While using this traditional form of assessment does serve different purposes, there are more and more forms of alternative assessments available for teachers. Yet, while more and more time isn't always there, they may still want to take a look at their options and see if any of them can fit into their classroom.
Dr. Sabiha Daudi, Assistant Professor in the College of Education at Northern Illinois University, compiled the following list of Alternative Forms of Assessment along with a brief explanation of each. Middle school teachers may find that some forms fit their needs much better than others, and many teachers will find that they already incorporate versions of these types of assessments into their classrooms. So whether teachers are experts with these assessments or have never heard of them before, hopefully they can find something new to take and tweak to make it work for them in their class.
- Manipulative tasks: Developing hypotheses, planning and carrying out experiments, measuring, writing up results.
- Oral examinations/Interviews: Face-to-face verbal exchanges that allow educators to ask questions and respond to students' answers.
- Exhibitions: Include, for example, demonstrations, projects, and presentations.
- Portfolios: A purposeful collection of evidence of a student's achievements, competencies, or skills gathered over time.
- Concept mapping: A visual tool depicting the relationships among a set of concepts.
- Performance assessment: Requires students to complete a task, create a product, or construct a response that demonstrates their knowledge of a skill, process, or concept. May or may not be authentic.
