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My guess is that most new and upcoming teachers know about alternative
assessments. All this means is that instead of testing students with
quizzes, tests and the traditional methods, that students are allowed to choose
other ways of letting teachers know that they have acquired specific
knowledge. I have found this very successful. Not only do student
choose what they will do, but they spend much more time preparing for
alternative assessments than most do for a test or exam. I have heard
students complain that they would rather take a traditional test, and when asked
for an explanation, they say that they don't do anything to prepare for
tests. They would rather just show up, take the test and forget about
it.
I use Howard Gardner's Multiple
Intelligence Theory when assigning these projects. At
the beginning of the school year each of my students has learned about the
intelligence's and have taken surveys to figure out their strong areas.
When project time comes around I encourage them to remember their strong
intelligence's and to choose a project that they will enjoy. Later in the
year, I try to make them stretch a bit, choosing a project that represents an
intelligence they are not as strong in. They must draft a proposal (sounds
official doesn't it?), tell me what letter grade they want, sign & date it
and then have me approve it. Getting them to write enough detail on the
proposal is my biggest struggle.
Below are some examples of what I use in my own
classroom. (Keep in mind I have freshman and sophomore science/ English
students)
Oral
Quizzing:
I just started using the method of oral quizzing and
have found it particularly helpful with students who normally do not perform
well on tests. Many times we spend a whole day practicing for an oral
quiz. I like to use diagrams to get important concepts across to
everyone.
Projects: