Measuring Genuine Learning in the Age of AI
To confidently measure student learning, educators need to emphasise process and authenticity in their assessment design.
Strategies for Effective Assessment
Process-Oriented Assessment:
Focus: Assess the journey, not just the destination.
How: Require drafts, outlines, research notes, or process journals. This shows the student's unique thought progression, which AI struggles to replicate.
Example: Students submit multiple essay drafts, explaining revisions.
Authentic & Real-World Tasks:
Focus: Design assignments that demand critical thinking and application in novel, real-world scenarios
How: AI generates based on existing data; authentic tasks require original thought and context-specific application.
Example: Students design a solution for a local community issue, incorporating local data.
Metacognitive Reflection:
Focus: Have students reflect on their learning process and how they used tools (including AI).
How: Genuine personal insights and self-assessment are difficult for AI to fake.
Example: Students write a reflection on how they used (or didn't use) AI and why, and what they learned from the process.
Oral & Interactive Assessments:
Focus: Incorporate spoken components to assess real-time understanding and critical thinking.
How: Live discussions, presentations, or interviews require spontaneous responses that AI can't easily mimic.
Example: Students orally defend their project choices and answer questions on the spot.
Transparent AI Use & Citation:
Focus: Teach students responsible AI use, treating it as a learning tool.
How: Require disclosure and critical evaluation of AI outputs. This builds AI literacy, a crucial skill for the future workforce.
Example: Students must cite AI use and critique its generated responses, explaining their modifications.
