21st Century Social Studies Assessment

• Home
• Abstract
• S.S. Learning & Assessment Objectives
• Defining Assessment
• Examples of A.A.
• Advantages of Traditional Assessment
• Disadvantages of A. A.
• Disadvantages of Traditional Assessment
• Advantages of A. A.
• Why we need Change
• Challenges & Controversies of A. A.
• Recommendations
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Feedback

Advantages of Alternative Assessment

Now what are the advantages of alternative assessment? We need to take note that assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning processes, which are closely related to instruction. Alternative assessment is testing that requires a student to create an answer or a product that demonstrates his or her knowledge and skills (Mathison, 1997) and is a shift from knowing the right answer to a demonstration of how they arrive at an answer (Mathison, 1997). The advantage of this on the part of the teachers is that teachers can gain access to student thinking and can enhance students’ ability by using non threatening questions that elicit explanations and reveal misconceptions. Teachers must be non-judgmental and this will strengthen students’ learning skills. Alternative assessment also encourages all students to exercise respect for diversity by modeling appreciation. As students pose questions, this will encourage students to construct and share their own understandings which will reinforce the concept of letting go of “teaching as telling” (Stenmark, 1991).


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