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Detectives search for clues and evidences to solve crimes and bring justice to commission of illegal and unlawful offenses. They try to find evidences to puzzle out mind-boggling incidents and arrive at a close-to-accurate scenario of a particular case. Same is true with educators. In order to reach one’s learning objectives, educators implement strategic assessment methods to gather evidences of learning and put all the puzzle pieces together.
There are various ways on how students can be assessed. From answering prompt questions to peer reviews, to creating projects or models and traditional paper-based exams. However, which among these is more valid than the others? Which is more reliable? Which assessment technique could complete the puzzle and lead the students towards the attainment of the goals-the learning outcomes.
From a video of a conference from Ohio Resource Center, one part of the discussion cite the importance of SUBSTANTIVE INSIGHTS. The speaker argues that what teachers need as evidence is student’s feedback rather than their test scores. Scores cannot determine what needs to be improved. Moreover, these grades could not be a strong basis on what the learners know and whatnot.
(Click here for the video)Formative Assessment for Middle School: Gathering and Analyzing Evidence
In some tests or paper-based exams where students tend to make mistakes, teachers make corrections. Right is right and wrong is wrong. In this method of assessment, the teacher will explain why the answer is right and why the answer is wrong. Yes, it will eventually build factual and conceptual understanding based from the question given. However, teachers often fail to RECOGNIZE WHY THE LEARNER THINKS THAT WAY. What makes them answer this and not that? What makes them believe this is true and the other is false? Going deep inside their thoughts helps to bring out effective learning.
QUESTIONING-is another form of assessment, which most educators fail to recognize. I do believe that questioning reflects learning. Depending on the depth and how perceptive the question is, I think educators should consider and must consider questioning as an evidence of learning. As factual and conceptual knowledge are shaped within the student’s mind, questions are derived and inquiries are made.
As I go through the module and read every articles and videos presented, it is getting clear to me how valuable assessment is for the improvement of both teaching and learning. In order to improve learning of the students, better assessment methods should be implemented.
As we try to complete the pieces of a student, evidences should be gathered and missing gaps should be filled. Making substantive insights, recognizing the way learner thinks and questioning are assessment techniques that could fill the pieces of the evidences, thus solve the greatest case in education – GENUINE LEARNING.
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References:
Lumina Foundation , The Teagle Foundation, and the College of Education at the University of Illinois. (2012). Providing Evidence of Student Learning:
A Transparency Framework. Retrieved from http://www.learningoutcomeassessment.org/
Huba, Mary E. and Freed, Jann E. (2000). Learner-Centered Assessment on College Campuses: Shifting the Focus from Teaching to Learning, Allyn & Bacon
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