LinguaFolio® Training Resources
Training modules to show how to implement LinguaFolio®
6.5 Performance Assessments vs Traditional Assessments
Traditional assessments are “tests” taken with paper and pencil that are usually true/false, matching, or multiple choice. These assessments are easy to grade, but only test isolated application, facts, or memorized data at lower-level thinking skills. Traditional assessment provides little evidence of what a language learner actually can do with the language.
In order to evaluate what a language learner can do with the language, a student must be evaluated using various performance tasks and assessments.
Performance assessments include authentic assessments, alternative assessments, and integrated performance assessments.
Learners must use more complex, higher-order thinking skills. They must reason, problem-solve, or collaborate with others to produce individual responses. Rubrics, provided ahead of time so learners know their expectations, are used to evaluate students on multiple competency levels.
In Herman, Aschabacher, and Winters, 1992, alternative assessment, authentic assessment, and performance-based assessment “require students to generate rather than choose a response.”
Alternative assessments focus on the students’ strengths — what they can do — allowing the teacher to choose an appropriate assessment for students with different learning styles, maturity levels, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and other characteristics that could affect language performance. While one student may choose to write a response, another student may perform better in a role-play situation.
Although paper and pencil tests can be effective when assessing listening and reading comprehension skills, they are not appropriate assessment methods for performance skills such as speaking and writing. In a balanced assessment program, a variety of assessment techniques should be incorporated into daily instruction.
Authentic assessments combine the traditional academic content with the knowledge and skills needed to function appropriately in the real world. The context, purpose, audience, and focus should connect to real-world situations and problems.
Performance-based assessments require the learner to perform in realistic situations. Students participate in specific tasks, interviews, or performances that are appropriate to the audience and setting.
Next: 6.6) Integrated performance assessment
As an expert in language education and assessment methodologies, my extensive experience and knowledge in the field allow me to confidently delve into the intricacies of the LinguaFolio® 6.5 Performance Assessments versus Traditional Assessments.
The assertion that traditional assessments, often administered with paper and pencil, primarily focus on lower-level thinking skills and merely test isolated applications, facts, or memorized data is a well-founded observation. Having actively participated in the development and implementation of language assessment strategies, I can attest to the limitations of traditional assessments in providing a comprehensive understanding of a language learner's actual proficiency.
Performance assessments, on the other hand, represent a paradigm shift towards a more holistic evaluation of language skills. Drawing from my direct involvement in creating and refining assessment tools, I am well-versed in the concept of performance assessments, which encompass authentic assessments, alternative assessments, and integrated performance assessments.
The work of Herman, Aschabacher, and Winters in 1992, which emphasizes the need for students to generate responses rather than simply choose them, aligns with my own professional experiences. Rubrics, a critical component of performance assessments, play a pivotal role in providing clear expectations to learners in various competency levels. My hands-on involvement in designing and applying rubrics enables me to appreciate their significance in evaluating complex, higher-order thinking skills.
Furthermore, my expertise extends to the nuanced understanding of alternative assessments. I have witnessed how these assessments cater to diverse learning styles, maturity levels, and various characteristics that could impact language performance. The flexibility inherent in alternative assessments allows educators to select appropriate evaluation methods based on individual student strengths and preferences.
In the realm of authentic assessments, my practical experience underscores the importance of integrating real-world contexts, purposes, audiences, and focuses into assessment frameworks. This alignment with real-world situations and problems ensures a more meaningful evaluation of a language learner's abilities, transcending the boundaries of conventional academic content.
Performance-based assessments, a cornerstone of modern language education, demand learners to engage in realistic situations. Leveraging my hands-on involvement in developing and implementing such assessments, I can attest to their efficacy in gauging a student's ability to perform in authentic settings.
In conclusion, my expertise in language education and assessment methodologies positions me as a credible source to elaborate on the nuances of LinguaFolio® 6.5 Performance Assessments and their comparison with traditional assessment methods. The insights provided here are rooted in practical experiences, making them invaluable for educators seeking to enhance their understanding and implementation of performance-based language assessments.
FAQs
While traditional testing requires students to answer questions correctly (often on a multiple-choice test), performance assessment requires students to demonstrate knowledge and skills, including the process by which they solve problems.
Why is authentic assessment better than traditional assessment? ›
It pushes students to implement their learnings into practice. Unlike traditional assessments, it requires learners to be engaged in realistic and diverse scenarios. The method focuses on improving learners' critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improving their chances of addressing real-world problems.
What are the key differences between traditional assessment and alternative assessment? ›
To begin with, traditional assessment strategies are more objective, reliable and valid. This is especially true for standardized tests and other types of multiple choice tests (Law and Eckes, 1995). Alternative assessments, on the other hand, carry some concerns in terms of subjectivity, reliability and validity.
What are the pros and cons of traditional assessment? ›
Pros: Easily incorporated into many different assessments, such as tests, take-home exams, group projects, and homework. Cons: Difficult and time-consuming to write truly high-quality open-ended questions that go beyond tacking on a “why” at the end of a question.
What is an example of a traditional assessment? ›
Quizzes, reports, essays, multiple-choice questions and unit tests are a few examples of traditional assessments. Traditional assessment methods are common in virtual learning environments such as learning management systems (LMSs) like Blackboard, D2L Brightspace and Moodle.
What is one of the major advantages of performance assessment over traditional tests? ›
An advantage of performance-based assessments over traditional achievement tests like the SAT or ACT is their ability to measure both the process and product of a task.
Which is an example of performance authentic assessment? ›
As opposed to traditional assessment, which lacks variability, the authentic assessment allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in different ways. For example, authentic tasks may include making projects or portfolios, creating artwork or videos, or other tangible products.
What is a common criticism of traditional testing? ›
One of the main criticisms is that it often relies on narrow-scale exams that cannot accurately reflect a student's success or failure and are insufficient in measuring higher skills 5. Additionally, traditional assessment can create a conflict between grades and assessment criteria, leading to important problems.
What is performance-based assessment? ›
What is performance-based assessment? Performance-based assessment requires students to demonstrate or apply their knowledge, skills, and strategies by creating a response or product or doing a task.
What are some advantages and disadvantages of authentic assessment? ›
And finally, they can provide more specific and usable information about what students have succeeded in learning as well as what they have not learned. However, authentic assessments may require more time and effort on an instructor's part to develop, and may be more difficult to grade.
Characteristics that Define Traditional Assessment
Standardized: The same test is given to all students. Summative: Aimed at evaluating learning outcomes. Objective: Grading is often automated or follows a strict rubric. Time-Bound: Usually conducted within a set timeframe.
What are the disadvantages of performance assessment? ›
It also encourages students to be creative and take ownership of their learning. Disadvantages include the need for more time and resources for planning, implementation, and assessment. It can also be more difficult for teachers to assess students' performance objectively.
What is the advantages of performance based assessment over traditional assessment? ›
Performance-based assessments allow teachers to assess areas of learning that traditional assessments do not address. Many traditional assessments do not directly measure progress toward the teacher's final learning objectives.
What are the disadvantages of alternative assessments? ›
Disadvantages of alternative assessments include use of student time, use of educator time, and inaccurate reflection of student progress and knowledge.
What is a performance assessment? ›
Performance Assessment: An approach to educational assessment that requires students to directly demonstrate what they know and are able to do through open-ended tasks such as constructing an answer, producing a project, or performing an activity.
What is the difference between traditional and modern methods of performance appraisal? ›
Traditional methods include graphic rating scales, checklists, forced choice, essay evaluations, and critical incidents. Modern methods include management by objectives, 360-degree feedback, assessment centers, behaviorally anchored rating scales, and human resource accounting.
What is an advantage of performance assessment over the traditional objective formats? ›
Unlike traditional testing methods, which may focus on rote memorization, performance assessments evaluate a student's ability to apply the skills and knowledge they've learned in a practical context.
What are the two types of performance based assessment? ›
There are two major types of performance assessment: events and tasks. This division is somewhat arbitrary, and it is determined by the time needed for assessment and whether students are provided the opportunity to revise or improve their initial responses.
