Are tests the only objective assessments of student learning?

 

Objective test items are defined as items for which the scoring rules are so exhaustive and specific that they prevent scorers from making subjective inferences or judgments. As a result, any scorer marking the items and following the rules should assign the same test score. Objective tests first began being used early in the twentieth century in order to evaluate learning outcomes and predict future achievement. The high reliability and predictive validity of the tests led to the eventual replacement of the essay test (Student assessment,2012).    

The most familiar and frequently used type of objective assessment is an achievement test that measures a student’s understanding. One common misconception is that objective tests are limited to testing specific, trivial, facts. This mainly depends on the skills and effort of the test constructor, rather than the format of the test (Student assessment, 2012).    

So we come to the question, are tests the only form of objective assessment? Some have argued that there is no clear difference between objective and subjective assessments. Their argument is that no assessment is truly objective because all assessments are inherently biased regarding relevant subject matter and content, as well as cultural biases (JISC, 2012). I would also argue that tests are not the only objective form of assessment.    

Because rubrics set forth specific criteria for assessment, define precise requirements for meeting those criteria, and often assign numerical scores to each level of performance, they too provide teachers with an effective, objective method for evaluating student learning that does not generally lend itself to objective assessment methods. Rubrics simplify the assessment process of student work and provide students, parents, and administrators with a clear explanation of how a student’s score was derived. At their very best, rubrics provide students with standards and expectations they can use to evaluate their own performance while completing the assignment and plan for success (Starr, 2000).

Some useful sites for creating and downloading rubrics follow:

·        KathySchrock's Guide for Educators,

·         Rubrics for Web Lessons,

·         S.C.O.R.E. Rubrics

·         www4teachers

·         Rubric Builder

·         Rubistar

·         The Rubricator

References

JISC infoNet - What Do We Mean by e-Assessment?. (2012). JISC infoNet - Promoting good practice, inspiring innovation. Retrieved June 5, 2012, from http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/InfoKits/effective-use-of-VLEs/e-assessment/assess-overview

Starr, L. (2000). Education World: Creating Rubrics: Tools You Can Use . Education World: The Educator's Best Friend. Retrieved June 5, 2012, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr248.shtml

Student Assessment | vuDAT (Virtual University Design & Technology). (2012). vuDAT (Virtual University Design & Technology). Retrieved June 5, 2012, from http://vudat.msu.edu/teach/student-assessment