Outcomes Based Assessment

Part 1

Outcomes-Based Assessment in Prairie Land: Aligning Our Practice with Purpose

As we continue to evolve and grow as educators in Prairie Land, our focus for 2025-2026 will be centered on a significant and purposeful shift in instructional practice, Outcomes-Based Assessment (OBA). Grounded in current research and aligned with the goals of Alberta’s new curriculum, OBA reflects not just a change in how we assess student learning, but a deeper commitment to what we value in education.

What Is Outcomes-Based Assessment?

Outcomes-Based Assessment shifts the focus from grading tasks and assignments to evaluating students’ mastery of clearly defined learning outcomes. For example, rather than marking a student’s success on a traditional spelling test, OBA looks at whether the student can apply correct spelling in their everyday writing. This subtle, but powerful difference helps ensure that our assessments are aligned with real learning, not just performance on isolated tasks. This approach is not about removing rigor; it’s about making rigor meaningful and connected to skill development, rather than a series of disconnected tasks.

Why the Shift?

Our province’s updated curriculum emphasizes competency, deep understanding, and the ability to transfer knowledge, and our assessment practices must reflect these priorities. When we continue to assess students based on isolated tasks like quizzes, worksheets, or general participation, we risk valuing completion over genuine learning. This approach can overlook whether students have truly grasped the key concepts and skills we aim to teach.

Educational researchers such as Rick Stiggins and Dylan Wiliam have long argued that assessment should inform learning, not simply measure it. Outcomes-Based Assessment provides both teachers and students with clear, specific feedback, allowing for targeted instruction, individualized support, and meaningful reflection.

A Contrast with Yesteryear

The traditional model of assessment, where a final mark is determined by averaging test scores and other items, does little to show what a student truly understands. It can also unfairly penalize students who learn at different paces or in different ways. Imagine two students: one who grasps a concept after re-teaching, and one who gets it right away. In an outcome-based model, both can demonstrate mastery and receive recognition for learning rather than be compared through arbitrary percentages and timelines.

Where We are Headed in Prairie Land

This upcoming year, Prairie Land is committing to the full implementation of OBA in all schools. Our professional development efforts will support all teachers in:

• Understanding how to design and report assessments based on learning outcomes.

• Shifting conversations from “what did students do?” to “what did students learn?”

• Embedding OBA into instructional planning and daily classroom routines.

This opportunity should not be seen as a burden, but as a transformative moment, and it is not optional. This is our collective responsibility as professionals dedicated to meaningful, student-centered education. We must ensure our practices reflect the outcomes our students deserve to achieve, not the outdated traditions we have grown accustomed to. Prairie Land is proud to be leading this shift with confidence and a firm belief that OBA is better for students, better for teachers, and better for learning.