Flexible Assessment: Learner voices on what learning to assess

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 what learning outcomes they choose to assess. The blog proceeds in the following order:

a) Requirements of choosing learning to be assessed

b) Procedure of choosing learning to be assessed

c) Benefits of choosing learning to be assessed

a) Requirements of choosing learning to be assessed

Learners choose to do 3 or 6 of six assessments.
The six assessments are outcomes-based.
Each assessment addresses specific course LOs.
The six assessments blend formative and summative assessments.
When discounted, optional assessments are considered to be formative.
Ss choose to count the first, third and fifth assessments in the final grade.
When counted, optional assessments are considered to be summative.
Ss could take optional assessments even if choosing not to count in the final grade.

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.
It becomes formative assessment for Ss who did not choose to take it.
It becomes low summative assessment for Ss who chose to take it.

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.
It becomes formative assessment for Ss who did not choose to take it.
It becomes low summative assessment for Ss who chose to take it.

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.
It becomes formative assessment for Ss who did not choose to take it.
It becomes high summative assessment for Ss who chose to take it.

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 choosing learning to be assessed

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 to take it count it in their final grade.
Ss who did not choose to take 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 to take it count it in their final grade.
Ss who did not choose to take 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 choosing learning to be assessed

Optional assessments become a low summative assessment when chosen.
Optional assessments become formative assessment when unchosen.
Ss are motivated to study for and achieve well in each optional assessment.
As a formative assessment, it helps students who chose not to count optional assessments to discover poor performance, study plans and learning strategies at an early stage without detrimental consequences for their final grade.
As a summative assessment, it helps students who chose to count optional assessments to discover poor performance, study plans and learning strategies at an early stage with less detrimental consequences for their final grade.
Test anxiety is minimized through optional and multiple assessments.
Ss who perform well on optional assessments increase their drive for success.
Improves analysis and evaluative skills with each assessment.
Ss become more aware of their strengths and weaknesses with each assessment.
Students make use of the blend between summative and formative assessments.
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.

Flexible Assessment: Learner voices on what learning to assess

Learner voices on assessment weights

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 what learning outcomes they choose to assess. The blog proceeds in the following order:

a) Requirements of choosing learning to be assessed

b) Procedure of choosing learning to be assessed

c) Benefits of choosing learning to be assessed

a) Requirements of choosing learning to be assessed

Learners choose to do 3 or 6 of six assessments.

The six assessments are outcomes-based.

Each assessment addresses specific course LOs.

The six assessments blend formative and summative assessments.

When discounted, optional assessments are considered to be formative.

Ss choose to count the first, third and fifth assessments in the final grade.

When counted, optional assessments are considered to be summative.

Ss could take optional assessments even if choosing not to count in the final grade.

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.

It becomes formative assessment for Ss who did not choose to take it.

It becomes low summative assessment for Ss who chose to take it.

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.

It becomes formative assessment for Ss who did not choose to take it.

It becomes low summative assessment for Ss who chose to take it.

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.

It becomes formative assessment for Ss who did not choose to take it.

It becomes high summative assessment for Ss who chose to take it.

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 choosing learning to be assessed

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 to take it count it in their final grade.

Ss who did not choose to take 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 to take it count it in their final grade.

Ss who did not choose to take 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)).