Rethinking Assessment: Replacing Traditional Exams with Paper Reviews

Abstract

The abrupt shift to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic left faculty at a loss of how to administer exams, which are common methods of summative assessment in college courses. This study evaluates students’ perceptions of an alternative assessment method in which they complete Paper Review Forms on relevant primary literature in a majors microbiology course.The abrupt shift to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic left faculty at a loss of how to administer exams, which are common methods of summative assessment in college courses. This study evaluates students’ perceptions of an alternative assessment method in which they complete Paper Review Forms on relevant primary literature in a majors microbiology course. Students indicated that they felt that Paper Reviews made microbiology content relevant to them, increased their engagement with the course content, and overall were a better way of assessment of their understanding of microbiology content than traditional exams. The format of Paper Reviews for assessment purposes makes them a good option for remote learning.