Assessment

Techniques for introducing new material and feedback to students throughout a lesson—a way to spark deeper insights and learning.

An assessment called a one-pager has students use art to show what they know—and it can be used across the curriculum.

No-zero policies spur serious—and productive—debate among teachers. We look at the big insights on both sides of the argument. 

A century-old pillar of the school system is under fire as schools look to modernize student assessment.

A rigorous intervention pushes students who might be satisfied with a D to aim higher.

Gather and use valuable student data to inform your classroom practice.

Grading is time-consuming but necessary, so we have some techniques for making it more effective and efficient.

A researcher explains how to align your test design with the latest brain science.

Through alternative formative assessment, teachers can check for student understanding without falling back on the tedious or intimidating pop quiz.

A format that provides students with personalized feedback and works to keep them from focusing solely on their grade.

Assessing students doesn’t have to mean giving a test—an interview or informal chat is often a better option.

The word "rigor" is hard to avoid today, and it provokes strong reactions from educators. Policymakers tout its importance. Publishers promote it as a feature of their materials. But some teachers share the view of Joanne Yatvin, past president of the National Council for Teachers of English. To them, rigor simply means more work, harder books, and longer school days. "None of these things is what I want for students at any level," Yatvin says. Part of the problem is that we have adopted the jargon without a clear understanding of what we really mean.