Creating Meaningful Assessments

Assessments can serve different purposes, at different stages of the learning process. High-stake evaluations in the form of exams, essays, and presentations, are often employed in post-secondary education. Although these assessments can be helpful in measuring the learning outcomes, they are only part of the story. To better support and improve learning, provide a combination of diagnostic, formative, and summative assessment opportunities.

Diagnostic assessments should be employed before instruction begins in order to determine the learners’ level of understanding. This allows educators to adapt their lesson in order to meet the needs of learners. Formative assessments should be incorporated during the learning process to monitor progress and provide feedback. Lastly, summative assessments should be delivered after instruction has occurred to evaluate learning against some standard or benchmark.

Diagnostic assessments take place before learning to determine the learner's level of understanding and adjust instruction if needed. Formative assessments take place during learning to identify gaps in understanding and provide feedback. Summative assessments take place after learning to evaluate student learning against the learning outcomes.

Tips for Designing UDL-AlignED Assessments

Align assessments to learning outcomes or objectives
Tip: Define clear, measurable course learning outcomes before designing assessments.
Offer authentic opportunities for assessment
Tip: Consider incorporating alternative assessments which allow learners to demonstrate their knowledge in unique and innovative ways.
Assess learner engagement in addition to content knowledge
Tip: Provide opportunities for self-reflection and self-assessment, as this stimulates metacognition.
Include frequent formative assessments
Tip: Incorporate a brief end-of-class activity like reflections, exit tickets, or one-minute papers.
Reduce barriers to access in assessments
Tip: Make resources available to all learners, including practice assessments, review guides, flexible timing, and assistive technology.
Support learner variability through flexible assessments and policies
Tip: Provide multiple means of engagement, representation, and action and expression.
Clarify expectations by sharing detailed rubrics
Tip: Create a rubric for each assessment, and share it with learners ahead of time.
Involve learners in assessing their learning process
Tip: Empower students to take ownership of their learning by providing mastery-oriented feedback and opportunities to track their own progress.
Reflect on summative assessments to improve future instruction
Tip: Schedule time to review summative assessment data, and use this information to enhance future instructional design.