kyle E. Albarado

Incarnating Assessment.

There are some important considerations for how to implement a plan of assessment that is accessible to our pupils. These include a contemplation of means and ends. The end is the cultivation of wisdom and virtue. The means must be docile to fallen, but redeemed, human nature.

1. Assessment through quantities is appropriate for memory and cognition, but not for acts of the intellect. Make the written word the primary medium for communicating assessment. Be concise, clear, and concrete in your written feedback.
2. Collect a catalog of resources and exercises to offer pupils, pairing them with your written feedback.
3. Allow pupils to revise all recorded assessments (within reason). The best punishment for unacceptable work is to simply not accept it without corrections. Invite students through revision work to incrementally build mastery.
4. Check in with students often. Conference with students about their end goal and their plans to reach that goal. Encourage them to revise their plans if things are not working out. Train pupils to keep track of their next steps in the path toward mastery.
5. Wherever possible, align assessment activities to the writing program of your institution. This alignment should include both format and content.

Ideas or Suggestions?
Questions, Comments, or if you have ideas or suggestions for me to develop future content here, please take a moment to reach out with the form below.