Choosing a Type of Assessment

A demonstration of the CLOs and learning by completing a task that applies knowledge, skills, and experience to a course-related topic.

Used when a learning outcome involves analysis, problem solving, application, or synthesis of knowledge.

Benefits	Considerations
Demonstrates depth of understanding and application of course concepts. Allows learners to connect prior learning and experience to authentic course-related topics. Can assess higher-order thinking skills such as analysis, evaluation, and synthesis. Increases opportunities for learners to show their creativity and connect them to personal/meaningful expressions of learning.	May emphasize the final product more than the process used to arrive at the outcome. Can favour learners with stronger writing, research, or presentation skills. May not fully demonstrate practical, interpersonal, or hands-on competencies without additional evidence.

A formal assessment conducted under timed conditions to evaluate learner knowledge and understanding of course content. Written exams focus on knowledge of facts, figures, and other discrete information crucial to a course, but can involve engagement in higher order demonstrations of comprehension, problem-solving, analysis, synthesis, critique, and even creativity. Exams may comprise one or more question types. Some exams may be performative, requiring learners to apply skill sets to demonstrate levels of knowledge. Use for knowledge-based courses with clearly defined content, facts, theories, terminology, or calculations.

Benefits

Considerations

Efficiently assesses a broad range of course content within a single assessment. Provides a standardized method for measuring knowledge and understanding. Easy to grade and assess learner’s content knowledge.

Depending on test questions there may be little evidence to support transition of knowledge to application and may evaluate learner's ability to take college level exams rather than subject knowledge. Only offering tests may have little support for learners who have trouble with tests, or can create test anxiety, impacting learner success. Learners are encouraged to write in-person in the Test Centre; however, offering a choice can support UDL. In this case, learners can choose to write the test asynchronously, using proctoring software for a small fee.

A compilation of artifacts or evidence, with or without self-reflective narratives, that demonstrate subject or discipline-specific knowledge and achievement of CLOs, providing a comprehensive overview of learning, work, volunteer, community, cultural, educational, or life experiences.

Used for learning gained through work, community involvement, cultural or heritage knowledge, volunteering, leadership, or life experience.

Benefits

Considerations

Excellent for experiential learning because learners can demonstrate knowledge gained through real-world work, community, cultural, and life experiences using multiple forms of evidence. Learner-centered and supports sharing of diverse evidence to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and understanding in multiple ways. Encourages meaningful reflection on how experiences have contributed to knowledge, skills, and competency development.

Often requires significant learner reflection and evaluator review. May be challenging for learners who have difficulty identifying, documenting, or explaining their learning. Availability of evidence that learners have access to collect can vary considerably.

A demonstration of learning and knowledge through a guided interview process of responding to structured questions and discussing how knowledge, skills, and experiences meet the CLOs.

Used for exploring communication skills, professional knowledge, Indigenous knowledge sharing, critical thinking, or reflective learning.

Benefits	Considerations
Engages deep exploration of learning with personal connections through dialogue. Supports oral-based knowledge sharing. Dialogue confirms the knowledge and understanding of the learner, and connection to learning outcomes, mitigating academic integrity concerns.	May unintentionally benefit confident learners with strong communication skills but insufficient content knowledge leading to inaccurate assessment of learning. Can be intimidating for learners who are shy, nervous, less verbally articulate, or require additional time to formulate responses. Requires evaluators to manage questioning and evaluation carefully to minimize bias and maintain fairness.

An in-depth analysis of an authentic scenario or problem requiring the application of critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. A detailed description including all relevant data, questions, and instructions for completion is provided. Case studies may range in complexity based on academic content and level of learning expectations.

Used for evaluating professional judgement, decision-making, ethical reasoning, or client interactions.

Benefits	Considerations
Demonstrates the application of knowledge to realistic and discipline-specific situations. Assesses critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and professional judgement. Can integrate multiple course concepts within a single assessment.	Quality of assessment depends heavily on the realism and relevance of the scenario that may take trial and error to build. May not fully demonstrate practical or hands-on skills without additional assessment methods. Responses can be influenced by a learner's familiarity with the specific context or scenario presented.

A structured, written assignment that explores a specific topic in-depth or compares two or more topics. Essays and papers require research and the learner to present arguments, thesis, or analyses in a structured format with citation requirements (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).

Used when course learning outcomes can be demonstrated through written responses.

Benefits	Considerations
Can integrate research, theory, and prior experience into a cohesive argument or discussion. Easy to administer and grade consistently. Effective for assessing content knowledge and theoretical understanding.	May not fully assess practical skills, judgement, or experiential learning. Can disadvantage learners who are less comfortable with formal academic writing. Grading longer essays can be time intensive.

An in-depth, extended investigation of a designated or self-selected topic or scenario relating to the course’s CLOs, culminating in one or more deliverables such as a paper, report, presentation, or creative activity (e.g., academic poster, video, graphic design). Projects typically address authentic/real-world situations or problems and may be completed over a period of days, weeks, or months. They require the application of course concepts and theories, research and project-management skills, critical and creative thinking, and collaborative and interpersonal skills. Projects may be divided into parts requiring multiple forms of submission.

Used when Course Learning Outcomes require the application of knowledge, research, problem-solving, project planning, critical thinking, analysis, creativity, or the integration of multiple skills to address a complex, authentic, or real-world issue.

Benefits	Considerations
Demonstrates the application of learning in realistic and meaningful contexts. Encourages critical thinking, research, planning, creativity, and problem-solving. Can provide strong evidence of both process and final outcomes.	Can be time intensive for both learners and evaluators. Assessment should evaluate both the final product and the learning demonstrated throughout the project. May require multiple deliverables or forms of evidence to adequately evaluate all course learning outcomes.

A demonstration of learning by presenting ideas, explaining a process, providing information or instructions, or raising or debating questions regarding an assigned subject. This can be completed live or pre-recorded and submitted depending on requirements. Presentations may or may not include visual support (e.g., slide shows, images, illustrations) and are designed to demonstrate learning and understanding and develop communication skills.

Used when exploring communication, teaching, leadership, advocacy, or knowledge-sharing outcomes.

Benefits	Considerations
Demonstrates communication skills and the ability to explain or teach concepts to others. Provides opportunities to share knowledge in an engaging and authentic format. May provide an opportunity to ask clarifying or extension questions depending on format.	May unintentionally benefit people with strong presentation skills but insufficient content knowledge. May provide limited evidence of deeper analysis or research unless supported by additional assessment components. Can be challenging for learners who experience anxiety with public speaking or verbal communication.

A demonstration of learning by performing tasks, applying skills, or responding to realistic scenarios that reflect the knowledge and abilities required in the course. This assessment focuses on what a learner can do, not just what they know.

Used for high-risk, technical, healthcare, emergency response, workplace environments, practical, laboratory, performance, clinical, or hands-on courses.

Benefits	Considerations
Evaluates hands-on skills safely. Direct evidence of skill competency. Provides opportunities to demonstrate practical abilities that may be difficult to capture through written assessments.	Requires facilities or specialized resources. May be affected by the environment and learners’ familiarity with equipment. Could be difficult to schedule time based on facility or resource availability.

A sharing of knowledge, experiences, reflections, teachings, or insights through an in-person sharing circle or recorded oral submission. This assessment recognizes learning that may be best expressed through speaking, storytelling, conversation, or oral traditions.

Used when assessing experiential learning, cultural understandings, reflective learning, personal and professional growth, community-based learning, communication skills, or learning that is best demonstrated through oral expression and storytelling.

Benefits	Considerations
Allows learners to explain connections between experience and learning in their own voice. Strong for evaluating reflection, critical thinking, and authenticity of learning. Supports diverse ways of demonstrating learning.	May challenge learners who are uncomfortable with recording or verbal communication. Requires assessment criteria that focus on demonstrated learning rather than speaking style or presentation ability. Can provide limited evidence of certain technical or practical competencies without additional supporting evidence.

A demonstration of learning through two or more assessment methods that work together to provide a comprehensive picture of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the CLOs and skill-base. This approach is often used when a single assessment method cannot adequately evaluate all course learning requirements.

Used when multiple types of assessments are needed to evaluate CLOs.

Benefits	Considerations
Often provides a more complete and accurate picture of a learner’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Provides multiple opportunities and formats to demonstrate learning. Easily demonstrates each CLO with proper mapping.	Can be time intensive to complete and for evaluators to grade. Requires coordination between assessment components and careful planning to ensure all parts work together effectively. May be more difficult for learners to navigate if expectations, timelines, and submission requirements are not clearly communicated.