Traditional Versus Innovative Assessment: Engaging Learners with E-Portfolios and Interactive Oral Assessments

Traditional assessments (e.g. multiple-choice quizzes and essays) fail to meet the diverse needs of students and are increasingly prone to academic integrity risks. This study compared students’ perceptions of traditional assessments with two innovative assessment types: Reflective E-portfolios and Interactive Oral Assessments (IOAs). Participants were 85 undergraduate biopsychology students, who completed Assessment Experience and Perceived Academic Misconduct scales, the University Needs Instrument, and provided qualitative responses. Students with high academic and emotional support needs rated E-portfolios more positively than IOAs, multiple choice quizzes, and written assessment tasks. IOAs, followed by E-portfolios were viewed as less vulnerable to academic misconduct than traditional tasks. Students had initial polarized reactions to innovative tasks, followed by task enjoyment, and highlighted the importance of engaging teaching methods and learning support. Our findings support the need for more innovative assessment that supports diverse student learning needs, while maintaining academic integrity.