At the Actuarial Research Conference in Urbana-Champaign, IL I spoke about research into assessment in STEM, with a focus on how it applies to actuarial topics.

Abstract:
Assessment is both to give students feedback on their learning as well as to assign grades. But unfortunately most students only see them as a means to obtain grades. How can we change this perception, and get students to see assessment as valuable learning experiences?

As part of a strategic initiative, I have been conducting an extensive scoping review of educational literature on what assessment types STEM faculty are using, as well as outcomes and best practices. The findings reveal a huge variety of techniques and some common themes.

In this talk, I will discuss the results of the research, and how actuarial science courses can best use both traditional and non-traditional assessment types. Participants will come away with tangible and research-supported suggestions for incorporating more authentic assessment types into their courses.