Alternative Assessment

Life ain’t a multiple choice test!

Why do you teach?

What are you preparing your students for?

Is your school’s vision to prepare students for

multiple choice tests?

If you only use multiple choice assessments,

then how can you claim that you are

preparing your students for life

beyond high school?

Can you imagine a surgeon who has only been trained

using multiple choice assessments?

How about a firefighter trying to save your life?

Or a nurse who only knows of four choices?

Does a lawyer argue with only four possibilities?

NO!

So, why do you?

Stop using the “Right Answer, Vending Machine” approach to assessment!

Assessment can’t be just about THE END…

…but, it’s also about the JOURNEY.

Success comes with experience!

Students aren’t robots, so why are your assessments designed

for robots?

One of our greatest responsibilities as teachers is

grading our students.(Guskey, 2004)

Grades determine retention, promotion, & graduation.

(NCREL)

A letter grade implies objectivity, fairness, &

equity.(Dunbar-Ickes, 2004)

Grades shouldn’t be used to punish kids.

Grades should reflect academic progress.

(Dunbar-Ickes, 2004)

Pencil & Paper tests shouldn’t be the only way a student can

express their level of understanding.

Our Workshop offers an alternative to multiple choice…

…an alternative to student boredom &

disengagement…

…an alternative to rote memorization…

…an alternative to failure…

…an alternative to dropping out.

Alternative Assessments not only answer, “What do

students know?” but, also, “What are students able to

do?” (Macciomei & Ruben, 1999)

Alternative assessments can improve the accuracy,

fairness, & the meaning of grading.(Kalsa & Miyake, 2005)

Alternative Assessments are based on authentic tasks that

demonstrate the student’s ability to accomplish the

learning target.

Some examples of Alternative Assessments

include:

Portfolios

Experiments

Journals

Model Constructions

Oral Reports

Story Boards

Comparison Charts

Student-led Conferences

Field-Experience

Rubrics & Comments for Feedback

Learn how to implement these

alternative assessments into your curriculum!

If you want to create authentic learning…

…narrow the achievement gap…

(Koelsch, Estrin, & Farr, 1995)

…better prepare your students for college & the real world…

(Darling-Hammond, 1994)

…better prepare your students for real-life problems…

(Darling-Hammond, 1994)

…then you need to attend our Workshop on Alternative

Assessment!

Guide your students.Mentor your students.Advise your students.Enlighten your students.Inspire your students.Empower your students.

Visit our website to sign-up for the next workshop in your

area!This is one choice you’ll

be glad you made!

This has been a production of K-Vegas Studios.Copyright 2010

Produced by: Julie NicholsProduction Managers: Joey Cutts,

Tammy Moose, Ashley PiattInspired by: Dr. Olson

Appalachian State University