Assessment

How to Design Effective Assessments

Maryellen Weimer, author of Learner-Centered Teaching, suggests that faculty find ways to use assessment to promote learning. Robert Wilson's Benefits of Teaching Innovations, suggests that effective assessments should require more active listening from students, allow instructors to identify students who need special help, help students identify their progress, improve student writing, and help students document that they are learning something substantial. Other tips for designing effective assessments include having assessments focus on the learning processes, having faculty reduce any possible stress and anxiety related to an assessment process, and incorporating feedback mechanisms into assessments.