Oral Exams as Authentic Assessments in an AI-Influenced Classroom ***Drop-ins Welcome*** Online
As generative AI continues to reshape teaching and learning, many instructors are reexamining how they assess what students truly know and can do. Oral exams are reemerging as a powerful form of authentic assessment that allows students to demonstrate their understanding, reasoning, and communication skills in real time.
In this workshop, participants will explore the role of oral exams in today’s AI-influenced classroom, including how they can support academic integrity while also elevating human-centered skills such as critical thinking and the ability to articulate and defend ideas. We will focus on practical strategies for designing aligned and meaningful oral exam questions, developing clear and equitable evaluation criteria, and implementing oral exams effectively across a range of course contexts. We will also address student preparation, common logistical challenges, and inclusive practices that support diverse learners.
By the end of the session, faculty will be equipped with actionable approaches to integrate oral exams into their courses as an intentional, rigorous, and engaging assessment strategy.
Upon completion of this learning experience, participants will be able to:
- Explain the renewed relevance of oral exams in the context of generative AI, including their role in supporting academic integrity, evaluating student understanding, and reinforcing human-centered skills.
- Define oral exams and explain their pedagogical benefits and limitations in higher education contexts.
- Align oral exam formats with course learning objectives and design structured oral exam questions that assess different cognitive levels (e.g., Bloom’s Taxonomy).
- Develop clear, equitable, and inclusive evaluation criteria, including the creation of rubrics that support transparent and fair grading.
- Determine appropriate formats for an oral exam (e.g., one-on-one, panel, recorded, group oral exams).
- Plan and implement oral exams effectively, including logistics, time management, and strategies for preparing students through scaffolding and practice.
- Identify potential barriers to student success in oral exams (e.g., anxiety, language proficiency), and apply inclusive and accessible practices including appropriate accommodations and alternatives that support diverse learners while maintaining academic rigor.
- Date:
- Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- Time:
- 1:30pm - 3:00pm
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Online:
- This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email.
- Audience:
- Educator Network In-Class Educators Quality Matters
- Categories:
- Curriculum Development Designing Courses EdTech Educator Networking Educator Onboarding Evaluation & Assessment Generative AI Improving Courses Online Session