Instructors organize their assessments based on what they think is best and easiest for instructors to administer and students to take. Despite their best intentions, many instructors do not realize or are not made aware that their assessments did not provide an accurate representation of how well the students learned, how much stress or anxiety impacted student performance, and retained the material taught in the course. This presentation will provide alternative assessment ideas the Academic Services Team at WSU Vancouver have recommended to faculty that teach online and/or in-person courses in order to alleviate student stress.

These alternative assessment ideas will benefit both students and instructors in future courses by providing students choice on how they can demonstrate their knowledge of the material covered in the course. Secondly, these assessment strategies are impactful for current and future course and lesson plan designing as instructors can situate their assessments based on real world applications. Lastly, attendees will generate assessment ideas applicable to their own courses that they can implement when they return home. They will also be able to review suggestions from others and offer others their suggestions.