Culturally Responsive Assessments

Assessment is subjugated by a Western worldview…much of the mainstream culture-infused, linguistic-laden practices of assessment disadvantage Indigenous students.^[1]

Traditional assessments tend to reinforce a linear, objective-oriented western worldview, rewarding memorization of facts that align with a colonial, white supremacist histories while misrepresenting or erasing the histories of Black, Indigenous peoples and People of Colour (BIPOC).

Our own biases and assumptions about teaching and learning are communicated directly and indirectly through our assessment design. While we may believe that our instructions, deadlines, and rubrics are clearly communicated to learners, we actually may be excluding and othering students who are racialized, students from non-western cultures, and students with language proficiency challenges.

For example, a typical math test with lengthy problems requires students to interpret complex linguistic features. For students whose main language is not English, their language proficiency is being assessed, not their math skills^[2].

As a result of these assumptions, learners may feel confused by unclear expectations and overwhelmed by the task itself.

One way to mitigate  the barriers of traditional assessments is to design culturally responsive assessment practices.

Assessment design and delivery are culturally responsive when they:

1) make learning meaningful and help students think about their learning,

2) foster cultural competence, and

3) promote socio-political consciousness.^[3]

In culturally responsive assessment, rote memorization is discouraged in favour of interactive and authentic opportunities to collaborate with others, encouraging students to contribute to community through meaningful and intentional action. Examples include petitions, social media campaigns, podcasts, and charitable events.

Additionally, people represented in images, scenarios, and examples in assessments will impact the extent to which a student feels as if they belong. Students who see themselves represented in assessment design and delivery are more likely to feel valued and engaged in the learning experience. When designing assessments, seek out images that represent a variety of racial and ethnic identities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and abilities.

Assessments that Respond to Indigenous Worldviews

“All students deserve a quality education, one that benefits from the contributions of the original peoples on the land they now call home.”^[4]

Understanding Indigenous perspectives is essential to a high-quality post-secondary educational experience in Ontario.

Non-Indigenous educators who are unfamiliar with Indigenous ways of knowing and relating to others should not be discouraged from seeking opportunities to learn how to integrate Indigenous perspectives into their assessment practices. Not only would Indigenous students feel included and see themselves represented in Indigenous-inspired learning activities and assessments, but non-Indigenous students will develop cultural competence by exploring other worldviews and challenging their own biases and ideologies.

To develop assessments that are culturally relevant to Indigenous peoples, non-Indigenous educators are encouraged to build their understanding of Indigenous perspectives by seeking out free and accessible educational resources such as the University of Toronto’s Understanding Indigenous Perspectives self-directed online modules.

If your institution offers curriculum development support with Indigenous advisors, reach out and get to know your Indigenous colleagues. Share your willingness to self-educate, and commit to supporting decolonizing your curriculum by incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing into instructional design. This includes assessments.

How can

Knowledge is subjective.^[5]

From a holistic Indigenous standpoint, education is about gaining life skills; it is about communicative interactions, social relationships, self-discovery, and self-growth. In turn, assessment and self-assessment need to focus on the diversity of learning; the whole learning experience.

Assessment Idea

Assessment Idea

Seven Grandfather Teachings

Assessment Idea

When designing assessments using

Imagine that we might adapt a traditional western assessment Indigenous worldviews as an example of

What are some considerations

Understanding Indigenous Perspectives. (2020). University of Toronto/OISE Indigenous Education Resources. Creative Commons.

What types of assessment might be relevant to all learners?

t the same time, we must be mindful that Indigenous students shouldn’t have to be the only educators in a post-secondary space, being put in a position of “having to explain colonization while also experiencing colonization”.

Alternative Assessments

Consider how we might move away from traditional assessment design that favours western perspectives.

We can integrate alternative assessments into our practice when we self-educate. We can build our own cultural competence first by learning about students – who they are, what they are passionate about, and what their goals are.

Then, we can seek out local and global initiatives that inspire students to share their ways of being, knowing and doing with each other and with us.

Activity

For the dialogue cards below, read the traditional assessment and consider a culturally responsive alternative assessment. Then, flip the card to view an option we’ve come up with.^[6]

Apply your Knowledge

Assessment is subjugated by a Western worldview…much of the mainstream culture-infused, linguistic-laden practices of assessment disadvantage Indigenous students.^[7]

Integrating online assessment practices that prioritize human experience and individual learning can foster inclusive learning environments and encourage learners to create their own transformative learning experiences. Furthermore, equitable and inclusive assessment design can help to dismantle systemic inequities caused by racism, bias and discrimination.^[8]

When educational curricula and pedagogy are imbued with Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing, Indigenous student learning improves.^[9]

insert definition, Indigenous perspectives, etc. Possibly bring over the Ted Talk from the Overview page.