Assessment through the eyes of a teacher
(Module 1 - EDS 113)
Having been a teacher for almost two years now, and having undergone different trainings in the school that I work for, I learned that assessments are crucial in the teaching and learning exercise. Assessment is the key process in instruction. It is only through assessment that we can find out whether what has been taught has been learned. Assessment is, therefore, the bridge between teaching and learning (2009, Popham). Having been a student for far longer than being a teacher, I thought that assessments then were a tool that separated the winners from the losers. It ranked the students according to the grades given by the teachers. Those who excelled were of course the cream of the crop. While the others were marked average or below average depending on the results of these assessments.
As a teacher and also being a parent, I observed the schools' change in viewing assessments. There is a sincere mission to help students learn. Back then, the assessments given did not necessarily measure what they were supposed to measure. There was a disconnect between the learning outcomes. I noticed that teachers missed the opportunity to check whether or not the students have learned what they have been taught. Perhaps because the assessments were not well thought of. These days, assessments enable the teachers not just to monitor their students, but also enhance student learning. Teachers are more mindful in sharing learning goals in layman's terms, they even provide rubrics that permit students to self-check their progress in learning. Feedback from the teachers also allow students to do better next time, giving them the chance to learn from their mistakes.
Currently, as an Art teacher, these assessments serve as my guide during parent-teacher conferences. Through the student's outputs and portfolios, the parents can visually see their child's strengths and weaknesses. This, therefore, enhances school-teacher-parent partnership. When used well and aligned with learning goals, these assessments enhance student learning a hundredfold.
Source:
Popham, W.J. (2009). Instruction that measures up: Successful teaching in the age of accountability. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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