Purposes of assessment

Purposes of Assessment

We measure our students learning for a number of reasons:

1. Assessment for Learning (Formative)

• The purpose of Formative Assessment is to provide students with feedback on how they are going. The aim is to help students improve their performance and make their next piece of assessed work better. It is developmental or formative in nature; hence the term "Formative Assessment".

• The feedback students receive is the key component of formative assessment. Feedback is intended to help them identify weaknesses and build on strengths to improve the quality of their next piece of assessment. The focus is on comments for improvement, not marks, and the awarding of marks in formative assessment can actually be counterproductive.

2. Assessment for Certification (Summative)

• Another key purpose of assessment is to gather evidence to make a judgment about a student's level of performance; against the specified learning objectives.

• Students are usually assessed at the end of an element of learning, such as the end of a module, mid semester or end of semester. They are awarded results typically as marks or grades to represent a particular level of achievement (high, medium, low). This judgmental "summative" process formally provides the evidence, to verify or "certify" which students may progress to the next level of their studies.

3. Protect Academic Standards• Grades from cumulative assessments are used

to certify that a person has the necessary knowledge and skills (and can apply them appropriately) to be awarded a qualification. Consequently, the quality and integrity of assessment is essential to guarantee the credibility of qualifications and the academic reputation of the issuing Institution.

• There is considerable local, national and international concern to ensure that the ways we protect academic standards stand up to scrutiny.

4. Feedback for Teaching• The results from both formative and summative

assessments can help you track how your students are going throughout your courses. Closely looking at the results can help you identify any patterns of difficulties or misunderstandings students might have. This in turn allows you alter your approach to teaching and adjust your curriculum accordingly. For example, you may identify that you need to offer more detailed explanations or provide additional resources in a particular area.

• We use assessment as a tool to provide feedback to students about their learning (Formative Assessment); as well as certifying their level of achievement (Summative Assessment). It is a means by which we protect our academic standards and institutional reputations; and a method or evaluating and adjusting teaching.

Another source also said that;

Early Childhood Teachers• Identify children's skills, abilities, and needs• Make lesson and activity plans and set goals• Create new classroom arrangements• Select materials• Make decisions about how to implement learning activities• Report to parents and families about children's

developmental status and achievement• Monitor and improve the teaching-learning process• Meet the individual needs of children• Group for instruction

Sources:

• http://www.education.com/reference/article/why-assessment-important/

• http://app.griffith.edu.au/assessment-matters/docs/introduction/purpose

Therefore:

• It measures student’s achievement.• It evaluates instruction.• It motivates learning.• It predicts success.• It diagnoses the nature of difficulties.

Thank you!

Prepared by: Shienna Kay Amarille BSED 404