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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

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