Alternative Assessments

This essay by Stephanie King is a phenomenal source for those looking to challenge and test their students learning without adhering to traditional means, i.e. pencil and paper tests that often bore students and leave them uninterested in the topic at hand. The article articulates how we can determine what we want our assessments to tell us about our students and ourselves and what questions we need to answer in order to determine the best type of assessment for the material currently being covered. The article goes on to detail an assessment model created by the author, specifically for a social studies classroom, with moving parts you can customize to your own class. Each of the “moving parts” are suggestions for types of assessments like tasks you have to do (reading, writing, art, verbal and nonverbal), as well as vocational tasks (pretend to be a museum curator, criminologist, etc.). Then the author dives into one of her favorite assessments: having students create nineteenth century American journals. She details the assessment, offers ways to use completed journals, and then discusses how it is beneficial to students learning. This resource is a great starting point for social studies teachers who want to find fun and unique assessment ideas because it offers suggestions as well as gives the necessary tools to allow teachers to create their own assessments without forfeiting any necessary learning. Keeping students interested in the material can often be difficult to start with, but then topping it off with a paper exam solidifies their disinterest in the subject. Finding ways to assess their knowledge that interest them are crucial to having them invest in their own learning. (word count 277)