Objective Assessments

Are tests the only objective assessments of student learning?

  Tests are always going to be part of a student’s school experience, but not all tests are created equal!  Objective assessments such as multiple choice, true/false, and short answer can be given via computer instead of paper.  If the students are interested in the delivery of the test, they may perform better in the long run.  What about students who have learning disabilities involving illegible hand writing?  Completing an online test might be an answer to their issue! They know their letters, and spelling is not the problem so why not use keyboarding or typing instead of handwriting.

   Are there other objective assessments available?       Yes! 

I use projects as an assessment.  This includes Internet Scavenger Hunts, Bio-Poems about famous Hispanic people or holidays, Travel agency reports on Spanish-speaking countries, and power point presentations on animals from the Latin American Rainforest.  As I learn how to integrate more technology into my classroom, I will expand my list of objective assessments!!

In conclusion, there are many types of assessments and manners of delivery available for teachers to use instead of “tests”.  I may be teaching the same content year after year, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use a different way to assess what my students learned!