scholarly journals Rethinking Assessment: Replacing Traditional Exams with Paper Reviews

Author(s):  
Sarah R. Sletten

The abrupt shift to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic left faculty at a loss of how to administer exams, which are common methods of summative assessment in college courses. This study evaluates students’ perceptions of an alternative assessment method in which they complete Paper Review Forms on relevant primary literature in a majors microbiology course.

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Rideout ◽  
T. B. Brenneman ◽  
K. L. Stevenson

Abstract Southern stem rot (caused by the soilborne fungus Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) traditionally has been assessed based on the percentage of infected 30.5-cm row segments, commonly referred to as disease incidence. Several alternative disease assessment methods were evaluated in four fungicide trials during the growing season (aboveground ratings) and immediately after peanut inversion (belowground ratings). Pearson's correlation coefficients compared disease assessments and yields for all trials. Across all disease assessment methods, belowground assessments at inversion showed a stronger correlation with yield than in-season aboveground assessments. Several of the alternative assessment methods showed a stronger negative correlation with yield than did the traditional disease incidence rating. However, none of the alternative methods were consistently more precise across all assessment dates and trials. There was a significant positive correlation between many of the alternative methods and the traditional disease incidence method. Furthermore, none of the alternative methods was better than the traditional method for detecting differences among fungicide treatments when subjected to ANOVA and subsequent Waller-Duncan mean separation tests (k-ratio = 100). Based on comparisons of the time required to assess disease intensity, the traditional disease assessment method was found to be the most time efficient method of those tested in this study.


in education ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-40
Author(s):  
Cristyne Hébert

As COVID-19 spread in early 2020, a lockdown was implemented across Canadian provinces andterritories, resulting in the shuttering of physical post-secondary campuses. Universities quicklypivoted to remote learning, and faculty members adjusted their instructional and assessmentapproaches to align with virtual environments. Presumably to aid with this process, a number ofinstitutions acquired licenses to remote online proctoring services. This paper examines theresearch around online remote proctoring, examining the justification offered for the adoption ofonline remote proctoring, and contemporary research on assessment practices in higher education.Throughout the paper, I demonstrate a lack of research that speaks to the efficacy of this mode ofassessment while also acknowledging shifts in the testing environment, and an increase in studentanxiety. I argue that online remote proctoring is not only embedded within neoliberalism and auditculture, but supports a continued reliance on testing culture. It concludes with a discussion ofassessment culture, offering some alternative assessment approaches that might disrupt the veryneed for online remote proctoring. Keywords: Online remote proctoring, assessment, testing


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. e12143
Author(s):  
Sandra Pitts ◽  
Renee R. Phillips ◽  
Paula B. Miltenberger ◽  
Monica Bennett ◽  
Christy Tucker ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 187-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim F. Schilling

Context: An emphasis on knowledge and skill competency acquisition continues to gain importance in allied health professions. Accuracy and fairness in the summative assessment of competencies are essential to ensure student competence. A positive demonstration of validity, reliability, and authentic quality criteria are needed to achieve evidence-based practice considerations in the assessment of competencies. Objective: To present a variety of instruments used in the assessment of competencies established in the fifth edition of the athletic training competencies document and judge them based on validity, reliability, and authenticity criteria. Data Sources: Literature reviewed for this article included published articles pertaining to the assessment of competencies used in health care professional programs. Data Synthesis: Self, written, and observation assessment methods with specific types of instruments for each category are used in the summative assessment of competencies. Quality of the assessment instruments are considered to ensure score authenticity, validity, and reliability of measures. The type of assessment instrument and its content was recommended depending on the level of competence, which was categorized according to the depth of understanding and complexity of skill in the competencies. Conclusions: There was no one-size-fits-all assessment method determined. Certain instruments demonstrated greater quality than others and were used depending on assessment goals and resources.


2019 ◽  
pp. 4-10
Author(s):  
Irini-Renika Popokammenou

One of the important roles and responsibilities of teachers is to conduct assessment to assess students’ progress. The implementation of alternative assessment methods can be frustrating and rather difficult for teachers. This paper discusses teacher and student perceptions on using alternative assessment. It focuses on how young learners of English perceived three different alternative assessments: peer-assessment, conferencing and the use of students’ drawings as assessment materials. The data sources comprised classroom observations, interviews with teachers and written comments from students. Analysis of the data provided insights on how teachers choose assessment techniques in A1 and A2 level classes. Teachers’ perceptions on the specific assessment methods are discussed. The written comments from students identified how students perceived the combination of the assessment methods employed by teachers and which assessment method they favored. The results show that teachers and students have positive perceptions on alternative assessment. Students’ needs and age are important factors for selecting assessment methods and individual needs must be taken into consideration when choosing alternative assessment methods. This paper highlights the importance of alternative assessment in A1 and A2 level classes since it can improve instruction. Results on the drawings used in the study as assessment materials indicate that students value personalized assessment. Alternative assessment can be a vital component in educators’ efforts to improve education.


Author(s):  
Hugh Goyder

If an acoustic resonance is set up in a pipework system then it may cause structural vibration which can lead to a catastrophic fatigue failure. An investigation is made into the coupling between acoustic waves and pipework stress with the objective of developing a simple method for determining if stresses are excessive. The analysis of the coupled acoustic and structural vibration results in a two-degree-of-freedom model with two natural frequencies and two damping ratios. This model is impractical as an assessment tool because the natural frequencies and damping ratios are either not known at all or are only known imperfectly. The model is therefore manipulated to give the stress corresponding to the most unfavourable conditions for the natural frequencies. This results in a useful assessment equation which may be used in practical circumstances. Comparisons are made with an alternative assessment method based on uncoupled behaviour.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 1179-1188 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. K. W. SCHOTTE ◽  
D. de DONCKER ◽  
C. VANKERCKHOVEN ◽  
H. VERTOMMEN ◽  
P. COSYNS

Background. Self-report instruments assessing the DSM personality disorders are characterized by overdiagnosis due to their emphasis on the measurement of personality traits rather than the impairment and distress associated with the criteria.Methods. The ADP-IV, a Dutch questionnaire, introduces an alternative assessment method: each test item assesses ‘Trait’ as well as ‘Distress/impairment’ characteristics of a DSM-IV criterion. This item format allows dimensional as well as categorical diagnostic evaluations. The present study explores the validity of the ADP-IV in a sample of 659 subjects of the Flemish population.Results. The dimensional personality disorder subscales, measuring Trait characteristics, are internally consistent and display a good concurrent validity with the Wisconsin Personality Disorders Inventory. Factor analysis at the item-level resulted in 11 orthogonal factors, describing personality dimensions such as psychopathy, social anxiety and avoidance, negative affect and self-image. Factor analysis at the subscale-level identified two basic dimensions, reflecting hostile (DSM-IV Cluster B) and anxious (DSM-IV Cluster C) interpersonal attitudes. Categorical ADP-IV diagnoses are obtained using scoring algorithms, which emphasize the Trait or the Distress concepts in the diagnostic evaluation. Prevalences of ADP-IV diagnoses of any personality disorder according to these algorithms vary between 2·28 and 20·64%.Conclusions. Although further research in clinical samples is required, the present results support the validity of the ADP-IV and the potential of the measurement of trait and distress characteristics as a method for assessing personality pathology.


Author(s):  
Ināra Laizāne

Issue of educational quality is becoming more and more actual in the whole world. One of the tasks of European Union in the field of education is to provide the quality of education. In this article the educational quality in science has been looked at. The aim and method of the research are revealed in the article. The research has been done with the aim to find out the students’ academic achievements in science and the tendencies of factors that influence them. With the help of quantitative method (questionnaire) the assessment method of academic achievements was explained. In order to measure students’ achievements, the results obtained by summative assessment were used. The tendencies of factors influencing academic achievements in science were explored by looking for correlative relevance that promote and delay students’ academic achievements in science. The data obtained in the research was analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.


2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 2433-2446 ◽  
Author(s):  
José M. Mateu ◽  
Isidre March-Chorda

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a more useful business models assessment method than the traditional intuitive one. The paper also compares both methods, in order to display what does the intuitive assessment method really assess. Design/methodology/approach An experimental approach allows the authors to generate a set of business models, in order to assess them and to compare alternative assessment methods in a quantitative manner. Findings The work proposes a scale for ex ante business models assessment consisting on eight indicators. This provides an ex ante assessment that takes into consideration a wider range of factors than the traditional intuitive assessment. The comparison between both methods shows which factors are intuitively taken into account and which are not. Research limitations/implications The research contributes to expand the business model creation framework. Practical implications A more accurate assessment will show the most promising business models that will result in higher chances of success of new business ventures. Social implications As companies and entrepreneurs hardly have the possibility to implement more than one business model, to choose the best option becomes essential. This selection could mark the threshold between success and failure, and between wealth creation and destruction. Originality/value Little research has been conducted in a field that might be really fruitful, the field of business model ex ante assessment. The work faces the challenge using an experimental methodology that allows to broaden the range of situations to study.


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