Four case studies on applying alternative assessments in higher education with technology tools to facilitate teaching and learning

Under the COVID-19 pandemic, on-campus classes were disrupted and remote teaching and learning had to be resorted to. To overcome the limitations posed by atypical teaching and learning arrangements, various kinds of alternative assessments had been used and discussed. Broadly speaking, alternative assessments embrace non-traditional ways to assess students’ ability comparing to the more summative types of on-campus examinations. Alternative assessments often provide an all-round evaluation by focussing on authenticity, and how students apply their knowledge. Our research aims to find out how to implement alternative assessments and provide a guide for instructors to initiate their first steps. The purpose of this paper is to examine four cases of using alternative assessments through interviewing the instructors and discussing the possible directions on designing course content and assessments with the strategic use of technology. Putting these cases together, some prospective challenges and concerns were discussed. Through this study, we hope to inspire some directions for designing and implementing alternative assessments using appropriate technologies. Copyright © 2021 ICERI.