“Assessing and Evaluating Students’
Learning”
Assessment is an integral component
of the learning process because it provides feedback to students and teachers
about student progress toward meeting a learning objective and the effectiveness
of a lesson. I have been feeling anxious
about my ability in creating adequate assessment pieces that align with
learning objectives and my lessons mostly because I lack experience and I feel
overwhelmed. However, after reading
Beach, Appleman, Hynds and Wilhelm’s piece Assessing and Evaluating Students’
Learning, and the Spokane Public School’s Secondary Standards-Based
grading and Reporting Handbook, I have gained some foundational knowledge
to help me formulate my own assessment strategies.
First, I need to assess my goals to
ensure that I am helping my students engage in deep, rigorous learning and that
I am not promoting a learning environment that functions merely on the
memorization and regurgitation of the “correct answer.” Second, I need to communicate my expectations
for learning by providing my students with clear and articulate assessments
that describe the criteria used to evaluate their work. Third, I need to use the feedback from assessments
to determine how my students are learning and progressing. Doing this means I must be reflective about what
is working for my students and what needs to be modified.
I hope to foster a classroom
environment where making mistakes is alright.
I want my students to understand that learning and growth is a cycle of
trying and trying again and again and again. Therefore I view assessment as a good thing
and it is a positive tool for growth. I know that sometimes students view assessment
negatively which might affect their future motivation for learning. As a teacher, I do not have to include every
assessment in my final report. This
allows students the opportunity to practice without the fear of being penalized
for mistakes. Standards-based grading is
an effective way to communicate achievement in a consistent way.
Beach, Appleman, Hynds, and Wilhelm’s “Assessing and Evaluating Students’ Learning: How Do You Know What They Have Learned?” (Handout)
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