Assessment
Assessment is a vast topic that is a continuing process that educators
use to observe, gather, and evaluate evidence to determine what students
have learned, as well as, making informed, and dependable decisions to
enhance student learning. It encompasses a broad range of testing from
nationwide accountability tests to everyday classroom observation and
quizzes. In order to take control of what appears to be an excess use of
testing, assessment should be looked upon as a tool for information. The
more information we have about students, the more closely we can look at
instructional strategies that are effective and which ones need to be
modified.
There are two main types of assessments that I will be discussing,
formal and informal. Informal assessments or in other words “assessment of
learning”, are used to evaluate students during the learning process. Formal
assessments are conducted as a tool to evaluate student’s completion of
work or the final product. There are many advantages and disadvantages to
these types of assessments techniques that I will be discussing for measuring
student progress.
I will begin by discussing two formal assessment types along with its
advantages and disadvantages. The first type of assessment that I would
like to address would be the statewide-standardized test under the No Child
Left Behind Act (NCLB). The statewide standardized test is considered a
high-stakes test because of the important consequences it has on passing or
failing the test. It mandates yearly testing for grades 3 through 8 and once
in high school for reading and math. Science was recently added in the mix
to test students at least once in elementary, middle and high school. The
underlying principle for this type of testing was intended to reach great
academic achievement for all students, especially those from lower
socioeconomic classes.
use to observe, gather, and evaluate evidence to determine what students
have learned, as well as, making informed, and dependable decisions to
enhance student learning. It encompasses a broad range of testing from
nationwide accountability tests to everyday classroom observation and
quizzes. In order to take control of what appears to be an excess use of
testing, assessment should be looked upon as a tool for information. The
more information we have about students, the more closely we can look at
instructional strategies that are effective and which ones need to be
modified.
There are two main types of assessments that I will be discussing,
formal and informal. Informal assessments or in other words “assessment of
learning”, are used to evaluate students during the learning process. Formal
assessments are conducted as a tool to evaluate student’s completion of
work or the final product. There are many advantages and disadvantages to
these types of assessments techniques that I will be discussing for measuring
student progress.
I will begin by discussing two formal assessment types along with its
advantages and disadvantages. The first type of assessment that I would
like to address would be the statewide-standardized test under the No Child
Left Behind Act (NCLB). The statewide standardized test is considered a
high-stakes test because of the important consequences it has on passing or
failing the test. It mandates yearly testing for grades 3 through 8 and once
in high school for reading and math. Science was recently added in the mix
to test students at least once in elementary, middle and high school. The
underlying principle for this type of testing was intended to reach great
academic achievement for all students, especially those from lower
socioeconomic classes.