Flexible Assessment: Learner voices on assessment weights

Flexible Assessment is an outcomes-based approach where formative and summative assessments are mixed to measure learning outcomes in ways that allow learner voices on assessment weights, what and how to assess as well as self- and peer-assessments. Flexible assessment usually involves using some or all of the following assessment methods:

Learner voices on assessment weights

First: Flexible assessment weights

Second: Open flexible assessment pathway

Learner voices on what to assess
Learner voices on how to assess learning
Learner voices on self-assessment
Learner voices on peer-assessment

In this blog, I will be discussing flexible assessment in terms of learner voices on assessment weights. The blog proceeds in the following order:

a) Requirements of flexible assessment weights

b) Procedure of flexible assessment weights

c) Benefits of flexible assessment weights

a) Requirements of flexible assessment weights

Students (Ss) choose to count 3 or 6 assessments in the final grade.
The six assessments are outcomes-based.
Each assessment addresses specific course learning outcomes (LOs).
The six assessments blend formative and summative assessments.
When discounted, optional assessments are considered to be formative.
When optional assessments are discounted, their percentage in the final grade as well as coverage of the course LOs are carried over to the next required assessment.
When counted, optional assessments are considered to be low summative.
Ss choose whether the first, third and/ or fifth assessments count in the final grade.
Whether contented or discounted, optional assessments can be taken by all Ss.
The six assessment weights alongside LOs coverage are as follows:

Assessment #1

Optional to take but counts in the final grade once chosen.
Counts for 5% of the final grade and covers 5% of the course LOs.

Assessment #2

Required to take and counts in the final grade.
Counts for 10% of the final grade and covers 10% of the course LOs.
Counts for 15 % of the final grade and covers 15% of the course LOs when assessment 1 is not chosen.

Assessment #3

Optional to take but counts in the final grade once chosen.
Counts for 15% of the final grade and covers 15% of the course LOs.

Assessment #4

Required to take and counts in the final grade.
Counts for 20% of the final grade and covers 20% of the course LOs.
Counts for 35 % of the final grade and covers 35% of the course LOs when assessment 3 is not chosen.

Assessment #5

Optional to take but counts in the final grade once chosen.
Counts for 25% of the final grade and covers 25% of the course LOs.

Assessment #6

Required to take and counts in the final grade.
Counts for 25% of the final grade and covers 25% of the course LOs.
Counts for 50 % of the final grade and covers 50% of the course LOs when assessment 5 is not chosen.

b) Procedure of flexible assessment weights

Assessment #1

Measures achievement of 5% of the course 40 LOs (2 LOs (5*40/100)).
Counts for 5% of the course 100 points (5 pts. (5*100/100)).
Grades of Ss who chose it count it in their final grade.
Ss who did not choose it must be tested in its LOs with assessment 2.

Assessment #2

For students who chose assessment 1:

Measures achievement of 10% of the course 40 LOs (4 LOs (10*40/100)).
Counts for 10% of the course 100 points (10 pts. (10*100/100)).

For students who did not choose assessment 1:

Measures achievement of 15% of the course 40 LOs (6 LOs (15*40/100)).
Counts for 15% of the course 100 points (15 pts. (15*100/100)).

Assessment #3

Measures achievement of 15% of the course 40 LOs (6 LOs (15*40/100)).
Counts for 15% of the course 100 points (15 pts. (15*100/100)).
Grades of Ss who chose it count it in their final grade.
Ss who did not choose it must be tested in its LOs with assessment 4.

Assessment #4

For students who chose assessment 3:

Measures achievement of 20% of the course 40 LOs (8 LOs (20*40/100)).
Counts for 20% of the course 100 points (20 pts. (20*100/100)).

For students who did not choose assessment 3:

Measures achievement of 35% of the course 40 LOs (14 LOs (35*40/100)).
Counts for 35% of the course 100 points (35 pts. (35*100/100)).

Assessment #5

Measures achievement of 25% of the course 40 LOs (10 LOs (25*40/100)).
Counts for 25% of the course 100 points (25 pts. (25*100/100)).
Grades of Ss who chose it count it in their final grade.
Ss who did not choose it must be tested in its LOs with assessment 6.

Assessment #6

For students who chose assessment 5:

Measures achievement of 25% of the course 40 LOs (10 LOs (25*40/100)).
Counts for 25% of the course 100 points (25 pts. (25*100/100)).

For students who did not choose assessment 5:

Measures achievement of 50% of the course 40 LOs (20 LOs (50*40/100)).
Counts for 50% of the course 100 points (50 pts. (50*100/100)).

c) Benefits of flexible assessment weights

Optional assessments become a low summative assessment when chosen.
Optional assessments become formative assessment when unchosen.
Ss have internal incentives to study for and achieve well in optional assessment.
It helps students to discover poor performance, study plans and learning strategies at an early stage without detrimental consequences for their final grade.
It allows instructors and program directors to discover poor performance at an early stage so that they adjust instructional content, delivery and assessment.
Test anxiety is minimized when optional assessments counted due to the low grades.
When Ss perform well on optional assessments, their drive for success increases.
Moving multiple assessments improves understanding and subsequent learning.
Improves analysis and evaluative skills with each assessment.
Ss become more aware of their strengths and weaknesses with each assessment.
Blend summative and formative assessment.
Test anxiety is not an issue as learners have six attempts.
It allows students to assess performance on multiple assessments and use this information to put learning back on track.

In this blog, I will be discussing flexible assessment in terms of learner voices on assessment weights. The blog proceeds in the following order:

a) Requirements of flexible assessment weights

b) Procedure of flexible assessment weights

c) Benefits of flexible assessment weights

a) Requirements of flexible assessment weights

Students (Ss) choose to count 3 or 6 assessments in the final grade.

The six assessments are outcomes-based.

Each assessment addresses specific course learning outcomes (LOs).

The six assessments blend formative and summative assessments.

When discounted, optional assessments are considered to be formative.

When optional assessments are discounted, their percentage in the final grade as well as coverage of the course LOs are carried over to the next required assessment.

When counted, optional assessments are considered to be low summative.

Ss choose whether the first, third and/ or fifth assessments count in the final grade.

Whether contented or discounted, optional assessments can be taken by all Ss.

The six assessment weights alongside LOs coverage are as follows:

Assessment #1

Optional to take but counts in the final grade once chosen.

Counts for 5% of the final grade and covers 5% of the course LOs.

Assessment #2

Required to take and counts in the final grade.

Counts for 10% of the final grade and covers 10% of the course LOs.

Counts for 15 % of the final grade and covers 15% of the course LOs when assessment 1 is not chosen.

Assessment #3

Optional to take but counts in the final grade once chosen.

Counts for 15% of the final grade and covers 15% of the course LOs.

Assessment #4

Required to take and counts in the final grade.

Counts for 20% of the final grade and covers 20% of the course LOs.

Counts for 35 % of the final grade and covers 35% of the course LOs when assessment 3 is not chosen.

Assessment #5

Optional to take but counts in the final grade once chosen.

Counts for 25% of the final grade and covers 25% of the course LOs.

Assessment #6

Required to take and counts in the final grade.

Counts for 25% of the final grade and covers 25% of the course LOs.

Counts for 50 % of the final grade and covers 50% of the course LOs when assessment 5 is not chosen.

b) Procedure of flexible assessment weights

Assessment #1

Measures achievement of 5% of the course 40 LOs (2 LOs (5*40/100)).

Counts for 5% of the course 100 points (5 pts. (5*100/100)).

Grades of Ss who chose it count it in their final grade.

Ss who did not choose it must be tested in its LOs with assessment 2.

Assessment #2

For students who chose assessment 1:

Measures achievement of 10% of the course 40 LOs (4 LOs (10*40/100)).

Counts for 10% of the course 100 points (10 pts. (10*100/100)).

For students who did not choose assessment 1:

Measures achievement of 15% of the course 40 LOs (6 LOs (15*40/100)).

Counts for 15% of the course 100 points (15 pts. (15*100/100)).

Assessment #3

Measures achievement of 15% of the course 40 LOs (6 LOs (15*40/100)).

Counts for 15% of the course 100 points (15 pts. (15*100/100)).

Grades of Ss who chose it count it in their final grade.

Ss who did not choose it must be tested in its LOs with assessment 4.

Assessment #4

For students who chose assessment 3:

Measures achievement of 20% of the course 40 LOs (8 LOs (20*40/100)).

Counts for 20% of the course 100 points (20 pts. (20*100/100)).

For students who did not choose assessment 3:

Measures achievement of 35% of the course 40 LOs (14 LOs (35*40/100)).

Counts for 35% of the course 100 points (35 pts. (35*100/100)).

Assessment #5

Measures achievement of 25% of the course 40 LOs (10 LOs (25*40/100)).

Counts for 25% of the course 100 points (25 pts. (25*100/100)).

Grades of Ss who chose it count it in their final grade.

Ss who did not choose it must be tested in its LOs with assessment 6.

Assessment #6

For students who chose assessment 5:

Measures achievement of 25% of the course 40 LOs (10 LOs (25*40/100)).

Counts for 25% of the course 100 points (25 pts. (25*100/100)).

For students who did not choose assessment 5:

Measures achievement of 50% of the course 40 LOs (20 LOs (50*40/100)).

Counts for 50% of the course 100 points (50 pts. (50*100/100)).

c) Benefits of flexible assessment weights

Optional assessments become a low summative assessment when chosen.

Optional assessments become formative assessment when unchosen.

Ss have internal incentives to study for and achieve well in optional assessment.

It helps students to discover poor performance, study plans and learning strategies at an early stage without detrimental consequences for their final grade.

It allows instructors and program directors to discover poor performance at an early stage so that they adjust instructional content, delivery and assessment.

Test anxiety is minimized when optional assessments counted due to the low grades.