Courses / Education / ED-FPX5304A
M.Ed. Education · Capella FlexPath

ED-FPX5304A: Assessment Models and Approaches

The first course in Capella's assessment unit, where M.Ed. FlexPath students evaluate established educational assessment models and approaches to determine which best fit a given instructional context.

Get Help With ED-FPX5304A →

ED-FPX5304A opens the four-course assessment unit (5304A → 5304B → 5304C → 5304D) by asking you to evaluate the landscape of assessment models — formative vs. summative, criterion- vs. norm-referenced, authentic and performance-based assessment — and determine which approach best fits a specific instructional context. The model you justify here becomes the foundation for the assessment you actually design in 5304B. This guide explains the assessment and how academic support for ED-FPX5304A helps you build a well-justified evaluation.

Course Overview

This 0.5-credit course parallels 5300A's structure but applies it to assessment rather than curriculum: you compare established assessment models and approaches (formative, summative, criterion-referenced, authentic/performance-based) against the needs of a specific learner population and instructional purpose, then recommend a model to carry into the design work of 5304B.

Common Assessment Focus Areas

How We Help With ED-FPX5304A

Common Challenges in This Course

As with the parallel curriculum course (5300A), the most common point loss is describing assessment models individually rather than comparing them directly against shared criteria like purpose, validity, and feasibility. Students also sometimes recommend a model that doesn't actually fit the stated instructional purpose — for example, recommending a high-stakes summative model for a context that calls for ongoing formative feedback. Because 5304B builds directly on this recommendation, choose a model you can realistically design a full assessment around.

Need Help With ED-FPX5304A?

Send us your specific assessment instructions and rubric, and we'll match you with a specialist familiar with this exact course.

Related Courses

ED-FPX5304A FAQ

How many assessment models should I compare?

Most rubrics expect at least two to three models compared against shared criteria — check your specific course shell for the exact minimum.

Does the model I choose carry into 5304B?

Yes — 5304B asks you to design an assessment based on the model you evaluate and recommend in 5304A.

What assessment models are commonly compared?

Formative vs. summative, criterion-referenced vs. norm-referenced, and authentic/performance-based vs. traditional standardized approaches are common comparisons.

Is this course purely theoretical with no design component?

Yes — 5304A evaluates models; the actual assessment design happens in 5304B.

Is grading competency-based like other FlexPath courses?

Yes — one assessment scored at distinguished, proficient, basic, or non-performance against defined competencies.