I teach a low level science class and I've been trying to shift to competency based learning for some time now. In a school that is rooted in a point based grading scale, my shift has been slow but I believe that students can demonstrate understanding in a variety of ways as students can struggle with mainstream testing methods.
In the past, I've had students create wanted posters for different elements, help wanted radio advertisements for different jobs in the chemistry field, and create board games for the classroom. I've also started creating choice boards for students so they get to choose how them demonstrate their knowledge. I think the "100 Things Students Can Demonstrate What They Know" provides some great ideas for non-test assessments.
I like this approach to checking competencies for multiple reasons:
1. Because students are choosing their assessment, they tend to put forth more effort in the activities.
2. It gives students ample opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of the material
3. Since it requires students to apply their knowledge and create something, it is more difficult to cheat on.
In the past, I've had students create wanted posters for different elements, help wanted radio advertisements for different jobs in the chemistry field, and create board games for the classroom. I've also started creating choice boards for students so they get to choose how them demonstrate their knowledge. I think the "100 Things Students Can Demonstrate What They Know" provides some great ideas for non-test assessments.
I like this approach to checking competencies for multiple reasons:
1. Because students are choosing their assessment, they tend to put forth more effort in the activities.
2. It gives students ample opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of the material
3. Since it requires students to apply their knowledge and create something, it is more difficult to cheat on.