Using Performance-Based Assessment to Benefit Student Learning

Society expects students to acquire specific knowledge and skills in school so that they can become competent, self-fulfilling adults. Performance-based tasks and assessments have been proven to have positive correlations with student learning. More importantly, when students participate in these kinds of learning activities, they develop the skills to complete real world tasks. They development competence.

According to Gardner (2006), “cognitive research shows that most learning occurs in active rather than passive contexts. Students build knowledge from their interactions in the classroom. With performance-based assessments, the student is part of an active learning process and is more likely to retain what they have learned in class.”

Read this A Pass handout, to learn more about the ways in which performance-based tasks and assessments contribute to high quality student learning.