Knowledge: You know that assessment can help your students increase their application of a biblical perspective to course content.

Vision: You are committed to achieving the vision—every student in every class proficiently applying a biblical perspective to course content.

Action: You want to act. You want to design and give your students an effective assessment.

Question: You ask, “What type of assessment can I use?”

Your answer: Before I respond to your question, please identify 3 types of assessment you could use. Right now. Please stop reading and identify 3 types of assessment.

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Good. Now that you’ve identified 3 types of assessment, keep reading.

My answer: Here are 4 types of assessment you can use—presentations, projects, tests, and writing. You can use these types of assessment to help your students increase their application of a biblical perspective to course content. At Christian Academy in Japan, for example, departments use the following types of assessment:

• Art: writing
  
• Bible: presentations
  
• Computer: projects
  
• English: tests, writing
  
• ESL: writing
  
• Math: projects
  
• Music: tests
  
• Social Studies: presentations, tests
  
• Science: writing

What might a given type of assessment look like? Here are 7 examples:

1. Presentation in English 8: Using a book that you’ve already read for independent reading this year, prepare a 2- to 3-minute presentation in which you give an exciting introduction to the plot, a brief explanation of the conflict and theme, a biblical perspective of the conflict and theme (including how the book shows “taking a stand”), and a satisfying conclusion.
   
2. Project in Math 8: Mr. Hall wants to buy an Apple computer and does not have enough money to pay up front. As Mr. Hall’s financial adviser, develop a poster that outlines what he payment plan your recommend that he should use. The poster should include a spreadsheet analysis that explains a credit card payment plan, the Apple credit account plan, and the Apple education lease plan. The poster should include your recommendation of payment plan Mr. Hall should choose and an explanation of how you used a biblical perspective to arrive at this recommendation, giving at least 1 Bible reference. (Use the biblical perspective of wealth and material goods we studied in class.)
   
3. Project in Science 9: Use three carbon footprint calculators to estimate your family’s and your greenhouse gas emissions and compare your results with national averages. In the context of using your learning to care for God’s creation, identify three ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Next, make an A3-size poster that shows what you learned, including your calculations for greenhouse gas emissions, a graph of your personal footprint, and a written explanation of a biblical perspective on why Christians should be concerned about the size of their carbon footprint and three or more steps you are taking or could take to reduce the size of your carbon footprint.
   
4. Test in English 10: (Short Answer) In this unit we studied “What’s the significance of words?” In a well-written paragraph, answer the question. In your paragraph, refer to 2 authors studied and the biblical perspective lesson we did.
   
5. Writing in Science 2: Write a 1–2 paragraph report about a dinosaur of your choice. Include where the dinosaur lived, when it lived, what it ate, what it looked like, its size, how it got its name, who found it, and any other interesting facts you found. Give three examples of how your dinosaur shows God’s creativity and power.
   
6. Writing in Social Studies 5: Write a one-page essay about the following: Based on what the Bible teaches about war, would you have fought in the Revolutionary War on the side of the colonists? In your answer, explain what the Bible teaches (cite two Bible verses). Next, use what the Bible teaches to evaluate reasons colonists fought in the war. Conclude with what you would do and why.
   
7. Writing in English 10: Write a 1000-word essay to answer the following questions: Who are you? How does knowing who you are help you love your neighbor and/or heal what’s wrong in the world? In your answer use first-person, use six quotations (three from the literature studied in class and three from the Bible) and cite a minimum of seven sources (including works of literature, the Bible, and a dictionary of theology).

Take action: You know assessment can help your students. You are committed to the vision of your students using a biblical perspective. You want to take action, and you now have several answers to your question, “What type of assessment can I use?”

Take action. Now. Determine the type of assessment you will use. Develop an assessment. Prepare your students for the assessment. Give your students the assessment. Completing an effective assessment helps your students