All assessment is a perpetual work in progress. - Linda Suske
I believe that teachers should include a variety of assessment methods throughout their school year. Student’s individual needs and interests must be considered. Assessing students in way one only is doing them a disservice. Teachers must consider, and become informed of, the many different types of assessment that exist. Of course there are traditional pencil and paper tests, but there are also interview style assessments, Learning styles. There are several different ways to assess student knowledge on a variety of topics.
I believe in project based learning for assessment and learning. It is no secret that students learn and retain much more when they are engaged in their learning. Providing opportunities for them to guide their learning based on their interests and motivations allows for authentic learning and therefore authentic assessment to take place. Students can be steered by their teacher to answer a driving question or solve a real world problem which provides them with 21st century skills and content. Giving students a well thought out and collaborative (in the sense that it is developed and agreed upon by both the teacher and students) rubric for assessment allows them to complete their work with the end goal in mind. Students know what is expected of them and are aware of how they will be graded at the end of the project. Students learn organizational and time management skills, as well as teamwork, reflection, leadership, and self-assessment skills. When teachers design a well organized and thought out project based learning activity for their students they are providing them the opportunity to demonstrate learning in their own way and become engaged on a more in-depth level.
I believe that students should have input on how they will be assessed. Getting to know your students is an integral part of successful teaching and learning. It is also important to be aware of your students interests and learning styles. Providing an 'information collection sheet' at the beginning of the year, which helps determine how students best learn, can be beneficial for both teacher and student. This is also extremely helpful when deciding on a type of assessment for your students. Giving them the chance to have an open conversation with you about how they like to be assessed and what, they think, best reflects their knowledge is concurrent with successful teaching, learning, and best practices. Allowing students to have their voices and opinions heard makes the assessment and learning process that much more successful for students and teachers alike.
I believe in project based learning for assessment and learning. It is no secret that students learn and retain much more when they are engaged in their learning. Providing opportunities for them to guide their learning based on their interests and motivations allows for authentic learning and therefore authentic assessment to take place. Students can be steered by their teacher to answer a driving question or solve a real world problem which provides them with 21st century skills and content. Giving students a well thought out and collaborative (in the sense that it is developed and agreed upon by both the teacher and students) rubric for assessment allows them to complete their work with the end goal in mind. Students know what is expected of them and are aware of how they will be graded at the end of the project. Students learn organizational and time management skills, as well as teamwork, reflection, leadership, and self-assessment skills. When teachers design a well organized and thought out project based learning activity for their students they are providing them the opportunity to demonstrate learning in their own way and become engaged on a more in-depth level.
I believe that students should have input on how they will be assessed. Getting to know your students is an integral part of successful teaching and learning. It is also important to be aware of your students interests and learning styles. Providing an 'information collection sheet' at the beginning of the year, which helps determine how students best learn, can be beneficial for both teacher and student. This is also extremely helpful when deciding on a type of assessment for your students. Giving them the chance to have an open conversation with you about how they like to be assessed and what, they think, best reflects their knowledge is concurrent with successful teaching, learning, and best practices. Allowing students to have their voices and opinions heard makes the assessment and learning process that much more successful for students and teachers alike.
I believe in summative assessment to help guide and track learning and developmental progress. Summative assessment helps to evaluate student growth in relation to the purpose of the lesson or activity. These types of assessments are valuable for both the teacher and students because it can help the teacher decide which topics might need more attention and which ones have been mastered by the students. If used properly, in addition to other types of assessment, summative assessment can be extremely useful and successful in the classroom.
I believe that it is the teachers responsibility to provide a comfortable and supportive classroom environment for each one of their students. Developing an atmosphere that promotes respect, community, and collaboration helps to ensure student success and learning. Assessing students in an environment like this allows them to demonstrate their learning to the best of their ability. True and valid assessment occurs when students are confident in demonstrating their abilities and knowledge in a way that interests and motivates them and makes them feel comfortable.
I believe in allowing students the opportunity to re-do work, if necessary, and have feedback from their teachers. Students deserve to know if and where they have not provided adequate evidence of knowledge, and to have the chance to therefore demonstrate it in a subsequent way. Teachers need to understand that students might need a variety of assessment methods in order for them to showcase what they know. Each student is different and has their own needs which need to be addressed, to the best of our abilities, as such.
I believe that it is the teachers responsibility to provide a comfortable and supportive classroom environment for each one of their students. Developing an atmosphere that promotes respect, community, and collaboration helps to ensure student success and learning. Assessing students in an environment like this allows them to demonstrate their learning to the best of their ability. True and valid assessment occurs when students are confident in demonstrating their abilities and knowledge in a way that interests and motivates them and makes them feel comfortable.
I believe in allowing students the opportunity to re-do work, if necessary, and have feedback from their teachers. Students deserve to know if and where they have not provided adequate evidence of knowledge, and to have the chance to therefore demonstrate it in a subsequent way. Teachers need to understand that students might need a variety of assessment methods in order for them to showcase what they know. Each student is different and has their own needs which need to be addressed, to the best of our abilities, as such.
Assignment completed as part of Measurement and Evaluation course at St. Thomas University. Example of using interviews for assessment.
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