Assessment is an imperative and significant part of any education system in the world. It play
s a central role in defining the objectives, outcomes, and strategies to rework and reform the academic delivery at schools and also guides on accomplishing the vision and mission of any academic or non-academic establishment. It is broadly and generally accepted and being practiced by all the schools, colleges, universities of the world. It has also become a major part of the digital courses and institutions to validate and credit the learning of the students. Without any assessment, no school, college, or university will ever promote the learners to higher classes. And the same applies to digital courses. It is so commonly accepted that even you cannot find an institution, in any part of the world, that doesn’t conduct it at their place.
Some researchers found different types of assessments. And proved how each and every type is crucial for effective learning. The most common three types of assessment are; 1. Assessment for learning, 2. Assessment of learning, 3. Assessment as learning. In brief, Assessment for learning occurs to provide feedback to both the teacher and the learners regarding the learner’s progress towards achieving the learning objectives. Assessment of learning occurs to enable students to demonstrate what they know and what they can do, it also describes the extent to which a student has achieved the learning goals. Assessment as learning occurs by involving the students to monitor their learning and creates a relation between their learning and objectives to attain.
These different types of assessments do one job in common; make the learners achieve the objectives. Teachers depend on it because they need information about the progress and evidence to claim how well the teaching-learning process is effective.
For all these years, the assessments have been conducted without a clear understanding of why it is important and what should be the next step according to the result!
The schools are so obsessed with it that they claim the result to be genuine and consider it very authentic. I have a few questions and I think they must be asked by all the educators in the world.
Q1: Does the assessment help in supporting the different types of learners?
We know the fact that there are different types of learners in every class. We try out best to offer the curriculum according to their style of learning. Some are auditory learners, some are visual learners and some are kinesthetic learners. So, we have to assess the learners according to their styles. There must not be one but multiple ways of conducting an assessment that helps those learners do well in it.
Q2: Are the methods or ways of assessment intended for all learners?
For many years now, 'paper and pen' is the only method at almost many schools. From the last decade, the other methods and ways are also considered as methods of assessment. whatever the tools that are used, all of them must help different types of learners. some students like to speak it out, some prefer to write it down and some prefer to explain using visuals. The methods of assessment must not become a barrier to expressing their knowledge or information.
Q3: Can we consider our assessment genuine?
This is an apt question. We consider our assessment method to be genuine. But it is not. Some children don't do well in the 'paper and pen' exam but can orally speak out all the information. Some like to explain the concepts in their mother tongue and don't prefer explaining the same in foreign or any other language. It simply means that they have all the knowledge and information, the language is becoming a barrier. Having no idea about this fact, the educators consider their one method to be genuine and the same has been presented and spoken about to the parents. Everybody starts assuming that the kid is not acquiring knowledge, but the fact of the matter is, he is doing a great job.
Q4: What will be the better way or method of conducting an assessment?
The teachers must research and find out the different methods of conducting an assessment. That method must focus on the distinction and unique learning styles of the learners. It must assist and enable them to share their knowledge and information, without any hiccups.
Q5: Are the students aware of why the assessment is being conducted?
No, the students are not aware of why exactly the assessment is conducted. They may tell that it is to check their knowledge. But it has got many objectives behind it. Matter of fact, like any lesson that has learning objectives, there must be some learning objectives for the assessments too. It must be spoken well to the students. Which must enable them to self-analyze or self-check how good and smart they are with their studies and where they need to improve. It must give them a clear idea about how they can self-assist themselves for acquiring knowledge and skills.
Q6: What are the objectives behind every assessment?
Do we really know what are the objectives behind the assessment? For each and every lesson, there has to be certain objectives for the assessment too. It shouldn't remain as a regular practice of conducting it at regular intervals, so the learners are made to write the exams just for the sake of continuing the evil practice, where the teachers do not know why they are conducting the assessment and what they must do to assist their students.
Q7: How the parents can help educators in this practice?
Parents must support the teachers in this cause. They cannot close their eyes whenever they are asked to assist the schools. It is their equal responsibility to know what their ward is learning and acquiring at school, how far he has attained the curricular objectives, and how good he has to be. The areas of improvement must be highlighted, also with an objective. The parents will start to appreciate the efforts of the schools when they get clear data and infographics about their ward's performance.
Matter of fact, the assessment is meant to achieve similar objectives, but with different domains. The students must be aware of why they are being assessed and what is the agenda behind every assessment. They need to know about the progress of learning to self-analyze how smart and good they are. Parents must also be supportive and are mindful of all that happens at schools.