While assessment is often characterized as a highly complex process, it need not be. It simply is a process for determining the skills a student possesses and whether instruction has been successful. As mentioned earlier, instruction is focused on the goals students have for themselves. Assessment, then, is a pathway for helping time-pressed students achieve their goals.

From standardized testing to portfolio or other authentic assessment, any number of techniques are available to determine the success of instruction. Traditionally, educators have regarded standardized testing, either norm-referenced or criterion-referenced, as the primary mode of assessment. Thankfully, authentic, performance-based assessments, such as portfolios, have become increasingly accepted as valuable measures.

The value of nontraditional assessment is recognized by teachers of adults. It is important to appreciate the apprehension of many adult learners who have failed within the traditional elementary and secondary educational system. To them, tests are still potential indicators of failure. Keeping this in mind, adult educators need to be aware of research that shows that sixty percent of learners who will drop out make that decision within the first six hours.

So, how, as a teacher, are the adult learner's abilities benchmarked and progress measured without compromising the supportive nature of the learning environment? Perhaps, “the best approach to assessment is a holistic one, in which a broad range of information is gathered using a variety of methods. . . . The use of multiple types of measures and techniques -- particularly those that measure demonstrated, applied performances -- is recommended.”¹ Several types of these measures and techniques are briefly described below.²

¹ The New York State Interagency Assessment Work Group, A Guide for Developing High-Quality, Comprehensive Assessment (Sponsored through the New York State Education Department). pg. 15.

² The following two sections are based on The New York State Interagency Assessment Work Group, A Guide for Developing High-Quality, Comprehensive Assessment (Sponsored through the New York State Education Department).