Farewell, Emperor: Incorporating Novelty Breathes Life into Student Assessments & Retention

In this action research project, a high school AP European History teacher explores the impact of novelty-based assessment on student learning and information retention. By replacing traditional lecture and quiz methods with a creative Napoleon eulogy project, the teacher investigated whether novel assessment strategies could enhance student achievement. Students were tasked with researching an individual in Napoleon's orbit and delivering a eulogistic speech, departing from conventional evaluation methods. The study revealed promising results: student comfort with Napoleonic history increased by 41.9%, and long-essay scores improved by 5.25%. Interestingly, while students did not initially recognize the project's educational value, follow-up assessments two and six weeks later demonstrated consistent and accurate information recall. Despite mixed student perceptions, the research suggests that incorporating novelty into classroom assessments can potentially improve learning outcomes and student engagement. The author plans to refine the research methodology and expand the study to other history classes, demonstrating a commitment to innovative pedagogical approaches.