Lesson 4 – Supporting Learning with Learner-Centered Assessments
Assessment reflects systems we have inherited and beliefs we may never have questioned. Assessment sends messages about what matters, who belongs, and whose ways of knowing count (Carless, 2015).
The learners in your class have diverse life experiences and ways of learning. Certain assessment types might unintentionally disadvantage some students—particularly students with prior knowledge of the academic culture of a particular region or discipline, neurodivergent students, and/or students who are studying in their additional language.
Measuring learner success using these types of assessment approaches (timed exams, oral presentations, etc.) can unjustly favour learners fluent in the language of instruction and familiar with academic systems and expectations. Some students will know the unwritten rules of traditional approaches, while others may need to spend time failing and learning, and as a result, may feel like they do not belong.
Effective, learner-centered assessments offer flexibility and choice and have a direct positive impact on students’ sense of belonging, which is critical for their academic success. Belonging is considered the third most fundamental human need in Maslow’s hierarchy, coming after physiological necessities and safety (Maslow, 1943).
Academic belonging is “the extent to which students subjectively perceive that they are valued, accepted, and legitimate members in their academic domain.” (Lewis et al., 2016)
Lewis et al (2016) summarize three decades of research on belonging in the context of higher education and concludes that a strong sense of academic belonging is linked to more positive emotional experiences and greater motivation. Students who feel they belong are more likely to report higher self-efficacy, perceive their coursework as valuable, and feel more academically competent. This sense of belonging also predicts higher grades and stronger intentions to persist in their studies, even when accounting for other factors like financial challenges and test scores.
Effective assessments that support belonging:
- center the learner
- engage them in co-creation
- are transparent, and
- align with specific and clear learning outcomes.
We will delve into each of these in the sections that follow.