Assessment for Learning - Week 1

What is the purpose of assessment -to measure learning (end of unit test, finals – assessment of learning) or to promote learning (feedback on how learning is progressing – assessment for learning)? In examining my own practice, I admit that I have predominantly focused on measuring learning. These types of tests are, according to Buhagiar’s article on classroom assessment, learning unfriendly (narrow time and content), curriculum unfriendly (test taking strategies not content strategies), teacher unfriendly (basis for their evaluation), and student unfriendly (labeling).

 Ouch! So how can I switch to adding (can’t avoid the measuring) more assessments for learning? These have often also been called formative assessments.  These types of assessments are on-going and low stakes where students can see how they are doing so they can make adjustments and changes in order to learn more and where teachers can alter their instruction based on student outcomes.  I have started to incorporate more on-going and low stakes assessments in the form of online quizzes and individual check in.  While I check in student work, I comment on how well they did the assignment and if necessary ask them to repeat certain sections before I give credit.  This part I feel has caused students to adjust their methods. My online quizzes, although low stakes, have not achieved the true purpose to promote learning.  I think I need to have the feedback more instantaneous, with answers given immediately (which they weren't) and then responsibilities when answers were missed (which there wasn't).  If student missed a question on chemical properties – I should have had them do some more work to better understand the concept or add an supplementary activity(change my teaching).  Another additional key to formative assessments is to have students involved in the process, so that they can judge their own learning and take more ownership of it.  This too I have been lacking.  A lot to work on this year!

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Finally, I do love one type of assessment I do.  I give lab finals at the end of the semester, students need to use all they have learned to solve a new problem.  I suggest this is a new type of assessment – not an assessment of learning or an assessment for learning but the assessment is the learning!  My students often remark that they learned more doing the final itself! My favorite assessment!