Performance assessments provide students with the opportunity to illustrate their learning by creating a product or performing a task. In the high school health class, an example of a product may include the creation of a comic strip, article, rap or infomercial to illustrate the hazards of drug use. A student may perform the task of caring for an infant using an infant simulator. Often teachers assess both the process and product in performance-based assessments using rubrics and checklists.
Journals and logs provide an opportunity for a teacher and student to communicate in a regular and efficient manner. The nature of health class lends to students sharing thoughts and opinions on topics that truly matter and influence their lives. Students can reflect on classroom discussions, make predictions, summarize topics or state an action using their journals. Teachers provide insights and comments on student journal entries as well as assess the students' understanding of the materials and concepts presented.
Scenario assessments give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to explain what they would do given real-life scenarios. The teacher provides a health-related scenario, in which the student writes an extended response, debates a position, presents their findings or formulates an action plan using their knowledge of the topics and their views on the scenario. In addition, this type of assessment allows students to illustrate their problem-solving and decision-making skills in determining the best way to resolve an issue in health. Teachers assess the student’s knowledge, assumptions and use of the decision-making or problem-solving process through a rubric.
Portfolio assessments allow students to illustrate their knowledge with a collection of several samples of work. This type of assessment allows the student to show growth in knowledge and ability as the portfolio illustrates work throughout an entire course. Students and teachers will assess and reflect on each sample individually as well as the portfolio as a whole. Portfolios can be in multimedia format and may include samples of products created, writing, presentation clips, videos and journal entries.