Skip to main content

Assessment Philosophy- What are the roles of Assessments?


What is the role of Assessments?

As a second-year teacher, this is something that I ask myself quite often. During my first year of teaching, I had to focus on designing lessons and tests that pushed my students to understand the material. After reflecting on these moments, I have made changes throughout this school year, but there are always ways to improve, especially when it comes to assessments, their use in the classroom, and how they impact the learning process.

Assessment Synonyms
Image is free to use under Creative Common Licensing.

When I think of assessments, I believe they check students’ understanding of the material and uncover their growth in a concept or idea (Shepard, 2000). Tests are the tools teachers use to help gauge where their students are in reaching the learning objectives. This evaluation is vital in the learning process because learning sometimes builds on previous steps. Without a check-in of the learning process, some may not understand the material, as well as their teachers might notice. It demonstrates how the lessons work to build on prior knowledge and experiences and expand their schemas as they learn new material.

Yet, how should teachers design assessments?

Assessments help to enhance teaching practices because they allow for reflections on the lessons and activities used during the learning process. Through formative and summative assessments, teachers can give low- and high-stakes opportunities to determine where the learning is throughout the unit. Formative assessments help students practice the material to recognize the gaps in knowledge. Summative assessments are used to see students understanding at the end of the unit. With various formative and summative assessments, teachers can distinguish the comprehension of the material and decide if students are ready to move to the next level (Shepard, 2000). Both formative and summative assessments demonstrate students’ knowledge and can be used together to help students reach their end goals.

How can assessment become meaningful experiences in the classroom for teachers and students?

For teachers, assessments help how the material is taught. It is not about teaching to the test. Instead, it is about ensuring the lessons and activities meet the learning objectives related to the assessment. Teachers can be creative when designing lessons, which can change how assessments are viewed. For example, project-based learning brings new learning and assessment into the classroom. Students are challenged to demonstrate their knowledge through projects that show a deeper understanding of the material, allowing them to have more choices in their learning. With the opportunity for a student-centered learning approach, students are the directors of their learning and can use problem-solving skills to help them learn through the experience.

How do we improve assessments?

Assessments are essential for showing an understanding of the material, but it is crucial to keep improving our tests. Like bringing in new ideas such as project-based learning, assessments should help students comprehend their learning and give them feedback. Shepard (2000) explained that assessments can help students reflect on their learning process. Students can recognize how their preparation led to the expected outcome, whether understanding the material or reviewing their study habits.

So, what does the future look like for education and assessments?

Assessments are transforming, and as the world of technology changes, we need to adapt and grow with them. Education technology can assist with using more technology in the classroom (Selwyn, 2011). This not only improves technology skills but helps students to use them in a variety of ways that helps to make technology more beneficial for students and educators. It is vital to ensure educators reflect on the teaching methods for both and keep changing how we use them for our students to their full potential as learners.


References

Selwyn, N. (2011). Education and technology: Key issues and debates. Continuum International Publishing.

Shepard, L. A. (2000). The role of assessment in a learning culture. Educational Researcher, 29(7), 4-14.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why is School SAFETY a growing problem?

Have you ever looked at the news and questioned why something happened? This last school year, I ran into this problem; school safety. Students participating in the National School Walkout against gun violence in Minnesota.  Image is free to use under Creative Common Licensing. I was a first-year teacher settling into my first classroom and the rest of the first that I would eventually experience. Sadly, I looked at my phone and saw the events at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan. My stomach turned into knots instantly. I couldn't help but think of the students, the teachers, and all the people connected to that horrific day. How could this happen again? But, one question stuck with me. What if we work with various professionals from different backgrounds to find a solution to prevent the next event? This transformation would require two big ideas: reevaluating the questions and changing how we look at the process. Berger's 2014, A More Beautiful Question , explains how w...
Post a Comment
Read more

QuickFire Conversations

QuickFire Conversations Imagine this; you are in a room with school board members, administration, teachers, parents, and students. The topic is a new school policy changing for the next school year that is designated to target cell phones in the classroom. The policy has been shared with the public and even made the news. The mock debate voiced concerns from all perspectives, online and at the school board meeting.  Well, this QuickFire activity was called to session where my classmates and I were assigned roles of various members of the Prescott, Arkansas, community and discussed this hot topic. Our spontaneous roles were given to us at random with little information about our new identity, but even more a lack of information on their recent change. After a given time to research, we "dialed" in our thoughts and began a respectful conversation.  My role in the activity was school board president.  While researching, I dove into the interweb to find information from al...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lighting Up Your Imagination!- Maker Movement

Lighting Up Your Imagination!- Maker Movement The Purpose for Learning As a student in the classroom, I always enjoyed learning through projects where I could let my creativity shine bright. In my Hybrid course this summer, I have been exposed to material that has helped with the design process of lessons in the classroom. But how do we bring this creativity into the classroom? Image is free to use under Creative Common Licensing. As a student in the classroom, I always enjoyed learning through projects where I could let my creativity shine bright. In my Hybrid course this summer, I have been exposed to material showing me the design thinking process. But, how do we bring this creativity? The Maker Movement has “lit” up a new path in the classroom for student-centered learning. This trend allows students to ask thought-provoking questions and create and improve their thinking upon the original ideas.  Hands-on learning allows students to be more creative, just like the art project...
Post a Comment
Read more