What assessment tools should you use to measure learning?

There are a variety of measurement tools used to assess learning. The instruments can be used by individual participants, in a group setting or implemented on global scale. The most common assessment tools used to measure student performance within the College of Medicine – Phoenix curriculum are rubrics, checklists and surveys.

Rubrics

Rubrics are used to identify levels performance of a specific task. Each level of a rubric is defined by specific indicators of the overall performance. For each indicator, a description outlines the mastery criteria needed to achieve the correlative level of success. Instructors use rubrics to define the quality of performance within the area being rated. Raters use headings to name the level of accomplishment, e.g. “marginal”, “satisfactory” and exemplary”.

Rubrics can be used as both formative and summative measures of performance. They are often used as a development assessment tool for tracking change or improvement over time. In articulating the same target goals for improvement for everyone being assessed, rubrics provide a framework of consistency in measuring progress by illustrating a common set of definitions across all outcomes.

The most common types of rubrics are analytic and holistic. An analytic rubric is used to assess components of a finished product comprising of multiple elements. This type of rubric targets more than one content area, but contains levels of performance.

 Beginning
1
Developing
2
Accomplished
3
Exemplary
4
Criteria #1 Description reflecting beginning level of performance. Description reflecting movement toward mastery level of performance. Description reflecting achievement of mastery level of performance. Description reflecting highest level of performance.
Criteria #2 Description reflecting beginning level of performance. Description reflecting movement toward mastery level of performance. Description reflecting achievement of mastery level of performance. Description reflecting highest level of performance.

Sample Analytic Rubrics

  • Clinical Write Up Grading Rubric. (PDF)
  • Analytic OSCE Rubric.
  • Presentation Case Study Rubric.

Conversely, a holistic rubric targets a single area and is used to asses an entire work as a whole product considering multiple factors in each level.

LevelDescription
5 Demonstrates complete understanding of the problem. All requirements of task are included in the response.
4 Demonstrates considerable understanding of the problem. All requirements of task are included in the response.
3 Demonstrates partial understanding of the problem. Most requirements of task are included in the response.
2 Demonstrates little understanding of the problem. Many requirements of task are missing from the response.
1 Demonstrates no understanding of the problem.
0 No response/task not attempted.

Sample Holistic Rubrics

  • Holistic Sample of Researcher Quality.
  • Critical Thinking Rubric. (PDF)
  • Holistic Assessment of Cardiac Patient.

Surveys

Surveys are used to gather information from participants about their attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and behaviors. Surveys use headings to label a scale of responses. Surveys target specified samplings of populations to answer a series of question. A questionnaire often frames the implementation of a survey to gather information about participant responses. Once responses are obtained, analysis of the data provides insight into the sampled populous. After a survey is piloted, feedback received regarding its implementation, revisions can be conducted to better the instrument prior to the formal launch to its intended global audience.

There are two distinct types of surveys, numeric and descriptive. Numeric surveys use increasing/decreasing numbers to rank a level of agreement or satisfaction. Descriptive surveys use definitions or phrases to describe a differentiated characteristic of a given interpretation

Survey Examples

  • Numeric Survey: "1=Strongly Disagree", and "5=Strongly Agree".
  • Descriptive Survey: "Satisfactory = Successful completion of all assigned tasks".

In this post, you will find 27 Formative Assessment Tools for Your Classroom!

What assessment tools should you use to measure learning?

Let’s make sure we are all on the same page when it comes to formative assessment, or what I like to refer to as, “Assessment FOR Learning,” as a follower of Rick Stiggins‘ work over the years.

“Teachers who use, “Assessment FOR learning,” involve their students in ongoing self-assessment in ways that reveal to those learners (a) where they are headed in their learning, (b) where they are now in relation to those expectations, and (c) how each student can close the gap between the two.” – Rick Stiggins

Formative assessment is such an essential part of the learning process and student success, and many digital tools can help support this process.

This list has a wide variety of features and options to help you solidify your formative assessment strategies! Many of the tools below are great for both formative and summative assessments.

Listen to this article.

What assessment tools should you use to measure learning?
What assessment tools should you use to measure learning?
What assessment tools should you use to measure learning?
 
What assessment tools should you use to measure learning?

(in alphabetic order)

1. ASSISTments

ASSISTments is a forever free online math platform that makes it easy for teachers to assign online from their curriculum, and assess student progress in the classroom or remotely. When working on assignments within ASSISTments, students get immediate feedback as they go and teachers get actionable data, which they use to focus instructional time where students need the most support.

Related: 85+ Apps That Integrate with Google Classroom

2. Edpuzzle

Edpuzzle allows you to turn videos into a quick assessment. Choose a video on YouTube, Khan Academy, Crash Course, or upload your own. Trim the video, insert a quiz anywhere and track your students progress. (Freemium, basic account is free, additional features available with paid accounts.)

3. Edulastic

Edulastic is a complete assessment dashboard. Teachers can create and track assessments, and even align with CCSS. They also offer a district wide-platform for sharing district-wide assessments. (Free for teachers, district-sharing requires a paid license.)

4. Explain Everything

Easy-to-use online whiteboard program that can be used on any device. Students can quickly create video summaries in which they can present the most important things they learned and what questions they may still have. (Free and paid versions)

5. Flipgrid

Flipgrid is a video discussion platform, that allows students to respond to questions, topics, and reflect using video. Students can also respond to each other, leave comments, and more. (Free!)

Related: Flipgrid: The Go-To Remote Learning Tool

6. Gimkit

Some have said that Gimkit is Kahoot on steroids. Gimkit is another fast-paced quiz game, but with an extra element. Students earn in-game cash to spend on game upgrades. Check out Leslie Fisher’s review and video to learn more.

7. Google Classroom Question Tool

Inside Google Classroom, you have the option to create a question and share that with students. You can make this collaborative, or just have the answers viewable for you the teacher. This is not a robust threaded discussion tool like I wish it was, but it can be handy for formative assessments and to check for understanding.

Related: The Google Classroom Cheat Sheets for Teachers and Students (FREE)

8. Go Formative

Formative is a free online assessment tool that is very robust. Formative allows teachers to choose pre-made assessments and edit to fit their needs, create their own from scratch, or even upload a PDF or doc to create. They also offer some fantastic data that you can track and intervene when needed. (FREE and integrates with Google Classroom!)

9. Google Forms

Google forms is a survey and quiz tool that is very easy to use. You can feed your form or quiz data into a Google Sheet for analysis and evaluation. Both Google Forms and Sheets also have many “add-ons” that give users even more capabilities that can power your formative assessments. (FREE)

10. InsertLearning

InsertLearning is a Chrome extension that lets you turn any webpage into an interactive lesson. InsertLearning has this fantastic toolbar that will allow you to highlight text, add sticky notes, insert questions, videos, or even a discussion all inside the webpage! Learn more about InsertLearning here: 4 Ways to Blend Learning with InsertLearning. (InsertLearning is a freemium application, but you get your first five lessons for free.)

11. Jamboard

Jamboard is a cloud-based, whiteboard application that can be used for collaboration across multiple devices. Students can use this application to collaborate, create presentations, and bring together resources from other Google apps and the web.

12. Kahoot!

Kahoot! is a game-based learning and trivia platform that allows you to create very engaging quizzes for your classroom. Kahoot! is super fun and addictive. You can create your own kahoots, or choose from their library of games. Play live kahoots, in groups, issue challenges, or assign as homework. (FREE)

13. Mentimeter

Mentimeter is an interactive presentation tool that allows you to poll your students, check for understanding, or ask students to vote. There are several different types of questions you can create, image-based, multiple-choice, scales, open-ended, questions from the audience and more. You can even generate word clouds out of responses! (Freemium, some features are free.)

14. Mote

Mote is a FREE Chrome extension that allows you to leave voice notes and feedback, and much more! Improve feedback and formative assessment with voice recording.

Related: 15 Ways to Use Mote in the Classroom

15. Nearpod

Nearpod is an interactive classroom tool for teachers to engage students with interactive lessons. Nearpod allows you to create and share lessons that sync across devices and encourage student participation, and evaluate student responses through comprehensive reporting. (Freemium, some features are free.)

16. Padlet

Padlet is a super easy way to create an online bulletin board that allows teachers and students to share and collaborate. What’s great about Padlet is that it offers so much flexibility! It works on any device, and you can share just about any type of information–text, links, upload files, photos, videos, just about any kind of response. There are also many different ways you can design your pages. Customize the background, organize information in new ways. (Free trial available)

17. Parlay

Parlay is a discussion-based learning tool and global community of educators who are reimagining class discussions for the 21st Century. (Free trial available)

18. Pear Deck

Pear Deck is a web-based formative assessment tool that allows you to create interactive lessons using G Suite tools. The Google Slides add-on has quickly become a favorite of mine. (I even teach it in my Google Slides Master Class!) Pear Deck offers a library of free templates that you can use to created interactive assessments in your slides. Pear Deck is also a freemium tool, some features are free, but you can get a 3-month Premium Membership with this special link for Shake Up Learning readers!

19. Playposit

PlayPosit is a web- and Chrome-based tool that lets teachers create and edit interactive video assessments from streamed or uploaded content. (paid)

20. Plickers

This assessment tool allows teachers to collect on-the-spot formative assessment data without the need to have students use devices or paper and pencil. Teachers create and print specially coded cards that students hold up in class as their responses. The teacher uses the Plickers app to scan the cards and collect the data. (Free)

21. Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere is a live audience polling tool that integrates into your presentation. You can ask questions during your lessons, see live data, and reports. (Freemium, free accounts are limited to 25 responses per poll.)

22. Quizizz

Quizizz allows you to conduct student-paced formative assessments in a fun and engaging way for students of all ages. Quizizz works on just about any device and offers a library of public quizzes that teachers can use in their classrooms. They also provide detailed class and student reports. (FREE)

23. Quizlet

Quizlet is a study tool that uses flashcards, games, and other “study sets.” to help students. Quizlet Live is a collaborative quiz game where students are placed into teams to work together to answer the questions and learn together. (FREE)

24. Quizalize

Engage your class with fun, standards-tagged quizzes. Get instant data on student mastery. Automatically assign differentiated follow-up activities. (Free basic teacher accounts)

25. Seesaw

Seesaw is a digital portfolio and communication tool that many teachers love! Seesaw works on any device shared or 1:1. Free for teachers. Teachers create activities for students. Students draw, take pictures and video, and capture their learning in their portfolio. Parents can view their students work and leave comments. (Freemium, some features are free.)

26. Socrative

Socrative is a web-based formative assessment tool that allows teachers to create quizzes, ask questions, collect exit tickets and feedback. You can also create a competitive quiz bowl game, called, “Space Race,” where students compete to get the most answers correct. (Freemium with up to 50 students per session.)

27. Spiral.ac

Spiral.ac is an interactive learning platform with a suite of collaborative applications. Deliver quickfire formative assessments, discussion, teams of students can work together to create presentations, and turn any public video into a live chat with questions and quizzes. (Freemium, some features are free.)


Did your favorite assessment tool make the list? If not, let me know in the comments!


© Shake Up Learning 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

What assessment tools shall you use to measure learning?

Assessment Tools: Introduction.
Rubrics. For assessing qualitative student work such as essays, projects, reports, or presentations, we recommend the use of rubrics. ... .
Curriculum Mapping. ... .
Focus Groups. ... .
Portfolios. ... .
Structured Interviews. ... .
Surveys..

What tools would you use to evaluate student learning?

Assessment tools aid in assessing and evaluating student learning and can provide different options to assess students beyond the traditional exam. Several tools are available including grading rubrics , Canvas Assignments , plagiarism detection, self-assessment, and peer assessment, surveys, and classroom polling.

What are the 3 assessment tools?

Peer Review - Having students assess themselves and each other. Portfolios - A collection of evidence to demonstrate mastery of a given set of concepts. Rubrics - A set of evaluation criteria based on learning goals and student performance.

What is the best assessment tool in education?

Mentimeter - For fun quizzes and formative assessments. ... .
Socrative - For detailed reports and insights. ... .
ASSISTments - For math assessments. ... .
Moodle - For complex assignments and assessments. ... .
Flip - For video assessments. ... .
Edulastic - For fans of data. ... .
Formative - For a comprehensive teaching tool. ... .
Quizlet - For assessment prep..