Assessment Methods and Types

Assessment Measures

Indirect assessments measure learners’ values, perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs through course evaluations, surveys, meeting notes, reflections, and feedback.

Direct assessments measure learners’ performance on a specific assignment, standardized tests, and observations. They can be any of the three types mentioned above.

Assessment Types

Assessments include measures that are direct and indirect, course embedded and stand-alone, and diagnostic, formative, and summative. Interpretation of multiple measures from all candidate level assessments guide candidate support and counseling and inform improvements in courses, programs, and unit operations.

Diagnostic assessments help the instructor identify the students’ knowledge, strength, and weaknesses. Knowing students’ capabilities through testing, allows the instructor to tailor the instructions to meet the students’ needs and help them grow. 

Formative assessments provide feedback and guidance to candidates as they progress in their development toward achievement of mission-based learning.

Summative assessments capture performance at key points and are measured against expected levels of progress at each of these points.

Assessment Methods

Course and program embedded assessment measures are assessments within required courses that expose learners to systematic learning experiences designed to prepare graduates by providing them with the specific knowledge and abilities to address identified learning outcomes. These assessments could be any type, diagnostic, formative, and summative. They are always direct assessment measures.

These may include:

1. Within courses: Test questions or assignments that are often discipline specific and are linked to assignments within courses.
2. Within a program: Stand-alone testing requires candidates to demonstrate certain knowledge or skills as a condition for graduation or at some other specific point in their degree program. These include assessments that may be embedded in courses such as portfolios, comprehensive exams, or standardized tests.

Transition point measures are assessments that are required across programs and the unit. They could be direct or indirect assessments and are mostly summative. These include admission evaluation of potential candidates, evaluation of dispositions, GPA at several points, admission data such as standardized tests, teacher certification and licensure exams, and evaluations of candidates’ readiness before and after internship.

Assessment – Different Modalities

Assessment Methods – Bloom Taxonomy