Microassessment

Microassessment is a form of assessment designed to measure a very small unit of knowledge, skill, or performance. It typically involves brief tasks or questions that can be completed quickly and repeatedly, often in the context of ongoing learning. The emphasis is on precision at the level of specific objectives rather than broad competences.

Microassessments are commonly used as formative tools to monitor progress, provide timely feedback, and guide instruction. Because they are frequent and low-stakes, they can reveal patterns of misunderstanding, support targeted remediation, and reinforce learning habits without inducing heavy testing anxiety. They also lend themselves to rapid data collection and analysis, which can inform instructional adjustments and learner support.

Formats for microassessment include short quizzes, single-task checks, bite-sized performance tasks, and quick reflective prompts. They can be delivered online or offline and may be scored automatically or by educators. The design focus is usually alignment with precise learning objectives, clear criteria, and immediate feedback to learners.

Applications span education, corporate training, and professional development. Microassessments support competency-based progression, skill-building programs, and adaptive learning approaches by providing granular insights into what learners can and cannot do.

Benefits include timely feedback, increased diagnostic value, and the potential for scalable, ongoing assessment. Limitations involve the risk of narrowing evaluation to narrow skills, variability in reliability, and the need for careful design to avoid over-assessment or superficial judgments.

See also: formative assessment, modular assessment, micro-credentials.