Bento and Buffet: Two Approaches to Flexible Summative Assessment

Abstract

This practice-sharing piece outlines two main approaches to flexible summative assessment schemes, including for each approach one example from my practice and another from a published study. The bento approach offers the same assessments to all students but a variety of grade weighting schemes, allowing students to change weighting during the term. The buffet approach offers students choice of individualized assessments from a menu of possibilities and individualized grade weighting. I outline some (dis)advantages of each approach, exploring the dilemma of balance between instructor workload and high-value student learning experiences.