When considering how to assess student learning in a course, most instructors would agree that the ideal assessment would be one that not only assesses students’ knowledge; it also teaches students and improves their skills and understanding of course content. An authentic assignment requires applying what students have learned to a new situation, and that demands judgment to determine what information and skills are relevant and how they should be used. This overview will discuss what is considered to be an authentic assessment, examples of what faculty are using, and demonstrate that authentic assessments don’t have to be more work for the instructor 

than a multiple-choice test.

Authentic Assessments Workshop: Jan 15th, 10-12

Want to adopt or create an authentic assessment for your course. This workshop will be hands-on, and you will work in teams to walk away with an assignment that you can utilize next semester. By attending this workshop, faculty will walk away with assessments that can be 

implemented, strategies to reduce time grading, and the confidence to try this new assessment type.

Course Design Basics:
Jan 14th, 12-1

This brief workshop will help you to organize your courses for the spring semester. During this 

course, expect to walk away with tips and tricks on ensuring your course is easy to navigate for 

students and is organized using evidence-based practices. This course will discuss how to self-

evaluate your course for continued course improvement.

Tracking Student Progress: Blackboard Analytics:
Jan 18th 12-1 

Want to ensure that your students are accessing the content of your course to make sure they are successful in your class? This workshop will discuss strategies to help you track students’ progress through your class and how to use these analytics to support student retention or serve as an early warning system. By attending this workshop faculty will learn about statistic tracking in UB Learns, adaptive release functions, and how to utilize these analytics to help your students be successful in your course.

Streamlining Assessments:
Jan 25th, 12-1

Want to reduce your grading time but provide quality feedback for students? This workshop will provide you with strategies to help you think of new ways to grade students’ assessments without adding hours to your grading. By attending this workshop, faculty will learn about creating and 

using existing rubrics and methods to break-up assignments to reduce your grading load.

2. The following series will be offered by Jessica Kruger and Derek Farkas from the School of Public Health and Health Professions.