A true longitudinal approach would evaluate students at several points in the program, providing baseline information about students knowledge and skills, and identifying changes in students growth and development. They demonstrate their learning through some kind of oral or written product. Criteria and standards. Criteria are the qualities of a performance on which students will be evaluated. Well defined criteria illuminate the significant dimensions of what students are to learn and do with what they learn.
Good criteria distinguish qualitative differences among students' learning and performance.
A standard is a definition of exemplary performance with respect to learning objectives. For example, on a task in which students must build and defend a point of view, standards would define how rigorous and sophisticated the argument ought to be.