7 Mindful Assessment Tools

First of all, we need to understand that it is the learner, and not the teacher, who creates learning. As teachers, it’s our responsibility to learn how to guide that learning by responding proactively to student performance. We do this by using mindful assessment practices, being present for our students and aware of what’s happening with them, and using simple mindful assessment tools to provide avenues for them to grow as they learn.

Teachers are always looking for ways to check for understanding, which we practice through applying mindful assessment. Mindful assessment tools come in many shapes and sizes. They can be quick and light or more in-depth. In the end, assessment can happen anytime in any classroom. The following 7 mindful assessment tools and best practices are quick and easy applications for anytime/anywhere assessment.

7 Mindful Assessment Tools

1. Quick Summaries

Students can be asked to summarize important lessons or concepts. You can even add a summary challenge using social media. Have them Tweet their summaries, for example; the challenge there is that the limit is 140 characters. Students must be concise and brief with their entries.

2. Open-Ended Questions

These are content questions that really get students thinking about what they’ve learned. They can chat about or write their responses. Try not to use closed questions like, “Did this make sense to you?” Instead, give students a chance to really think about the learning that took place.

3. Student Interviews

This is similar to Think-Pair-Share and happens at the end of the class. Groups of 2 or 3 students take a few minutes at the end of class to discuss what they’ve learned. Each student takes a turn interviewing the other. You can give them guiding questions like:

1. What was the most useful thing you learned?
2. What did you struggle most with?
3. What will you ask for help with next class?
4. What can you do to help somebody else learn better?
5. What’s your learning goal for next class?

4. Daily Learning Journals

This is a daily brief reflection exercise. It lets students privatize their experiences in their own words on a personal level. As far as assessment tools go, this is one that some students may resist. Some may not enjoy writing daily reflections. If so, offer up some alternatives.They could do it using screencasting or simple audio recording if they wish. Younger students can create vision boards or collages, relating imagery to what they’ve learned. They may also choose to share their excerpts on a class blog or web page. This is a great classroom community-building exercise.

1. they could do it using screencasting or simple audio recording
2. younger students can create vision boards or collages, relating imagery to what they’ve learned
3. let them share their excerpts on a class blog or web page

5. Peer Teaching

Assessment tools used by other students are a great way to check for understanding. You know students have truly learned a concept when they can teach it to other students. This can be done in groups of 2 or 3, but that’s a recommended limit. Bigger groups require the kind of attention-wrangling skills students don’t yet possess.

6. Quick-Draw Showdown

This one is a fun competitive exercise. Square two students off against each other, and have them quickly write down a sentence or draw a quick sketch of a learning concept. It works better if they are both using the same thing. When you say “Go!” the fun begins. The first one to finish wins the quick draw.

7. Self-Grading

Students can use this one to grade their own progress. Have them give themselves a grade on the material covered. They must then explain why they feel they’ve earned that grade.