Sample Assessments

Below is a collection of summative assessments used in a variety of undergraduate courses. More information is available upon request.

Lessons

Assessments

TA Feedback

Evaluations

Creative Project

Ode to Fungi
performance art
by Alaina Nagy

Students are asked to complete a creative final project to demonstrate mastery of a subset of course learning outcomes of their choice. Assigned during the last month of the course, this project has three components: a proposal, a status update, and a final submission. It supports culturally responsive teaching strategies by giving students the freedom to choose how they will demonstrate their mastery of course material. I have used this project most frequently in a non-majors biology course because this approach provides an engaging way for non-majors to interact with biology and science material, which is outside their usual program interests while showcasing their interests and talents. I also use this project in my introductory majors biology course as an honors contract assignment. The assignment is quite versatile and can be adapted for a wide range of courses.

Material

Gene Expression
painting
by Mariam Alremahi

Porkaryotes and Eukaryotes
a sewing project
by Andrew Orsco

Inevitabilis
a short story
by Jake Zumkley

Example Projects

shared with student permission

Animal Behavior BioBlitz

This assessment is assigned during the final month of an undergraduate animal behavior course. It evaluates students' understanding of the concepts learned throughout the course and their ability to apply these concepts in natural settings. Rather than requiring students to correctly identify specific behaviors, the assessment focuses on their comprehension of the concepts, their critical thinking skills, and their observational abilities. Students must apply the concepts to their observations, explaining their reasoning for determining how an animal's behavior exemplifies a particular behavior or concept from the field of animal behavior.

Material

BioBlitz instruction document for students

Online Biology MS Capstone Project

Students completing the ASU Online Biology MS program take a capstone course where they are asked to choose a research topic. They complete a literature review on the topic along with proposing a novel research idea. Below is the document outlining this project. Throughout the course, they have scaffolded assignments that help them work toward completing this final project.

Material

Guidelines for final project

Traditional and Two-Stage Exams

In my classes, I also use traditional exams that consist of multiple choice, true/false, and matching questions. These questions are carefully crafted to encompass both lower and upper levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. To prepare students for these exams, I provide in-class practice and practice exams. Sample exams are available upon request.

Additionally, in some classes, I enhance the traditional exam format by implementing two-stage exams, turning a summative assessment into a formative learning experience. Initially, students complete the exam individually. Afterward, they have a few days to review the material before retaking the same exam with a team. This method encourages students to discuss answers and concepts, facilitating learning from their mistakes. Moreover, I have observed students sharing study techniques and test-taking strategies during the collaborative stage of the exam, further enriching their learning experience.