Assessment is defined as the process of gathering information to
make decisions. In an educational context, assessment is the process
of observing learning: describing, collecting, recording, scoring, and
interpreting information about a student’s or one’s own learning. To
me assessment doesn't always have to be these boring long tests that
I have had from my teachers in the past. Speaking from a student's
point of view tests are too scarey and pose false assessment in my
opinion. When a student is studying for a whole week, has good grades
throughout the lessons and on homework, but fails a test because of
nervousness I feel that this should be deemed unfair. Students should
have a fair way to be assessed by their teachers.
As a teacher I want to offer my students a fair way to be assessed. Seeing
as how I hate testing and the fact that students are already tested enough
feel that assessment has to be fun and even sometimes instantenous
assessment. In order to get a correct notation of assement students need
to feel comfortable. I feel that the use of Smart Pals in classes would
definetly help the teacher learn what level the students are on, while
all of them are having fun writing with the dry erase markers. Assessment
does not have to be boring in order for it to have a positive outcome. In
my opinion in order for assessment to actually work it has to differ from
time to time to allow students to have fun.
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Amanda. I agree assessment is something that scares students at all levels. I currently am working as an aide and I see on a daily basis the struggles that the students have with the word "assessment" or "test."
ReplyDeleteI also grew up with only taking paper and pencil tests and in high school i eventually got the option to also write a paper (but that didn't interest me either). I was a straight A student who had an easy time with in class work and homework but had to bust my tail to study and receive high test grades, testing was not easy for me and was something that almost haunted me because I felt it was not a true reflection of my learning.
In the classroom I am now in my teacher does a great job of providing alternate types of assessment. She does have paper and pencil tests but not always and she also sometimes puts a spin on them. My teachers main focus is to make sure that the students learn, and not for them to focus on their test grades, whether it be an A or a N (equivalent to a F). Throughout this year the students have had the opportunity to write a paper, create a project, create a poster board, paper and pencil tests, computer based activities, etc. Whenever my teacher does give paper and pencil tests she gives an extra credit review sheet one week ahead of time. If the students turn it in she gives them extra points on their test grade because to her it shows her that the student have taken the time to study and are doing the extra things to get the best grade possible. If any students in the class receive a D or N on the test she works with them to correct their mistakes and clear up any mis-understandings about a concept. From there she may give a re-take or award more points because of the extra time she spent with them to go over their first test.
In closing the point of assessment is to see a students learning and to also assess yourself as a teacher. But the bottom line is a single assessment can't uphold a students learning, and a teacher should not be satisfied giving a student a low grade. Their job is to work with them to learn, so the extra help needed, to lift that students grade is the important component that many teachers don't do. Remember that even after the test is over, learning of a past subject still takes place and if they couldn't master it once, they're going to need help to be able to master it a second time.