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Assessment Ideas Beyond Traditional Tests

Quizzes are only one way to know what students understand. AI can suggest alternatives.

Step by step

  1. Define the target.
  2. Brainstorm options.
  3. Build a rubric.
  4. Pilot with one class.
  5. Reflect.

What to expect

Expect options such as oral explanations, portfolios, performance tasks and exit tickets, with quick rubrics.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not make assessments longer than the learning. Avoid vague criteria. Share expectations first.

A good next step

Try one new assessment this unit and ask students for feedback.

A worked example

A history teacher wants alternatives to a unit test. AI suggests a museum exhibit poster, a two-minute oral explanation and a timeline portfolio with a rubric for each. She chooses the oral explanation for the next unit.

A prompt you can copy

Type this into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini

Suggest five ways to assess understanding of [topic] for grade [x] that are not multiple choice tests, with a quick rubric idea for each.

Good to know. Align assessments with required standards.

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Common questions

Is grading harder?

Rubrics help.

Does it take longer?

Sometimes. Use small checks too.

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