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Provost's Working Group on Innovation in Assessment

Overview

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The Provost's Working Group for Innovation in Assessment supports research, experimentation, and adoption of alternative student assessment practices at Cornell University. Sponsored by the offices of the Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, this working group seeks to:

  • Learn from, experiment with, and test emerging student-centered assessment practices in higher education practice and research.
  • Gather and put into conversation practical experience with alternative assessment practices already in use around the university, including in large introductory and foundational classes.
  • Seek potential alternatives to competitive grading cultures and high-stakes testing models that have been found to contribute negatively and unequally to stress and well-being amongst Cornell undergraduates.
  • Where appropriate, offer assistance to faculty and students in navigating high-stakes examinations.

Participating Faculty Fellows will design and implement innovative assessments into a course and share their results with the Cornell community.

2024-2025 Faculty Fellows 

Upcoming Events

Implementing Authentic Assessments in Your Classroom

  • When: Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 3:45–4:45 p.m., in-person. Register for Implementing Authentic Assessments in Your Classroom.

  • Description: In this panel discussion we will explore alternative assessments for small to large-sized classes. These types of assessments provide meaningful, engaging, and creative opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning. At the end of the session, you will have some creative ideas to implement into your course. 

    Panelists are Natasha Holmes (Physics, College of Arts & Sciences), Amie Patchen (Public & Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine) and Landon Schnabel (Sociology, A&S, Brooks Cornell Public Policy).

    This event is sponsored and hosted by the Provost's Working Group on Innovation in Assessment, which supports research, experimentation, and adoption of alternative student assessment practices at Cornell University.

Previous Events

Assessment Practices that Support Student Well-being

  • Held: Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., in-person.
  • Description: At a time where college students are increasingly anxious and less connected to their peers, how can our assessment practices support student well-being? In this panel discussion, we will discuss current threats to students’ well-being and mental health, and discuss assessment-related strategies to communicate care, create a community of learners, and develop resilience. Panelists include:
    • Mark Sarvary, Senior Lecturer in Neurobiology & Behavior
    • Tracy Carrick, Senior Lecturer at the John S. Knight Institute
    • Amy Godert, Director of the Learning Strategic Center and Executive Director for Academic Student Success Programs

Authentic Assessments in the Age of Generative AI

  • Held: Tuesday, December 10, 2024, from 1:00-2:00 p.m., in person.
  • Description: Generative AI is here to stay. How can instructors prioritize learning, critical thinking, reflections, and conceptual understanding in the age of generative AI? In this panel discussion, we will discuss the impact of generative AI and current opportunities for leveraging generative AI to support authentic learning and assessments. Join us as we share examples of how generative AI is being implemented across Cornell and connect with colleagues from diverse disciplines. Together, we will examine strategies to assess student learning in this evolving digital age. Panelists include Steve Jackson (Vice Provost for Academic Innovation, Information Science & Science & Technology Studies, Cornell Bowers CIS), Ellie Duan (Animal Science, CALS), and Justin Clark (History, A&S).

Grading for Growth: Toward more Humane, Authentic, and Trustworthy Ways to Evaluate Student Work with Robert Talbert. 

  • Held: Thursday, November 14, from 1:30–2:30 p.m., in Goldwin Smith Hall, GSH 132.
  • Description: Grading as we know it is significantly broken. The traditional approach involving one-and-done assessment, points, partial credit, and averaging is demotivating for students, demoralizing for faculty, time-consuming, disconnected from science, and of questionable statistical validity. But it is not unchangeable, and in fact there is no better time than now to explore alternatives that prioritize student growth and align better with how humans learn. In this talk, we'll explore the history and issues of traditional grading, propose a framework for "alternative" grading practices, and see how to implement alternative grading without massive requirements of time or energy.

Contact Information

To learn more about the Provost Working Group for Innovation and Assessment, please contact our team: