To form? or to sum it up?

When I started teaching some 5 years ago, I was not much familiar with the different methods and strategies used in assessing students. I only know quizzes, unit tests, quarterly exams, which I actually adapted to what I had when I was in the school and university as a student.

However, as I progresses in my career, I encountered various assessment types and methods used in teaching. I came to know why it is being used and how it should be done in the classroom to ensure effectiveness. Most of the time, I discover it myself, some through my colleagues and others through seminars and trainings I am attending to.

In introspection, I believe, I would have learned more and engage more in discovering and exploring my own understanding and comprehension should I have learnt of these different types of assessment. I understand that everything changes to better oneself. If my teachers were already aware of these things back then, it would have been an effective and engaging learning experience for me.

Needless to say, it is indeed a good opportunity for me to further my skills and expertise as a professional.

As an educator, I am held responsible to ensure that my students are getting the learning that is expected. And to ascertain that learning is progressing, continuous assessment should be implemented either as formal or informal, summative or formative.

After I have learned these different types of assessments, I know I would be better in assisting my students in the learning process and would put emphasis on how I can ensure reliability and validity of my assessment measures.

Furthermore, I would be able to assist my colleagues in choosing and implementing an effective assessment method too. As I have observed, some are rendering assessments, such as homework, quizzes and tests, which are irrelevant and not align to the learning objectives. Some are even repetitive and does not foster progressive learning. These current understanding gives me self-assurance in identifying the right method and evaluating effective measures.

After learning about these types of assessment, I am more confident in assessing and it increases my understanding on how I can be effective in teaching and how I can improve my students’ learning.