Significant to this switch has been the move to more flexible educational theories, such as the ones mentioned previously, which require new methods of evaluation that are directly related to the learning approaches themselves. These methods of assessment focus primarily on the process rather than just the product of learning. Authentic assessment, for instance, involves students in the evaluation of their own learning. Self assessment is an important component here. Similarly, performance assessment requires the learner to demonstrate knowledge by creating something.
Portfolio assessment is focused on the process, as well as the final product.
All of these evaluation methods emphasize common themes, such as problem solving and complex learning, which entail a wide range of responses and challenging tasks with multiple steps, time, and effort. Alternative assessment affords us the ability to include motivation as an important factor in the evaluation process. The critics of alternative assessment complain that it is time and labor intensive, and heterogeneous. The outcome of the evaluation can vary widely in the specific knowledge domain being assessed. It can also vary widely because individual students' performance varies.