Assessment and Evaluation

What is most important to learn in education is that we are not learning to succeed in tests. We are learning new things in order to succeed in life. That is something that teachers should always keep in mind.

I loved Mars prezi presentation in virtual session 3. The material is excellent for self-study and gives many tips as well for using assessment in teaching.  My favorite a-ha from the material is basic but important. I realized that assessment has 3 different angles “assessment for/of/as learning”. It is a tool not only for teachers but also for students. Assessment for learning means that the assessment goal is to see study progress. Assessment of learning means assessment of learning results e.g. against national goals & requirements. Assessment as learning stands for students reflection of own learning.

What methods of assessment/evaluation will I use?

I don’t like to fill in assessment forms after class or after a course. I think there are two types of people; the ones who are like me and the ones that know it is important for course improvement and reflection and who will do a serious job. Team Jupiter (our dear planet) made a questionnaire based on the actual learning goals of virtual session 3. We had a good participation rate, and I think that it worked quite well. The results are a bit difficult to analyze since there were 3 different people giving the presentations based on the same material and all 3 sessions were separated, but it gave us the push that online assessment can be made after virtual sessions or after class. Crucial is though, not to give too much time to answer.  

When it comes to my own teaching, I will use different kinds of assessment and evaluation. I would like to use all 3 angles meaning that the assessment should serve both teachers and students. As blue to teaching, I can only use my imagination on how I will use assessment. But since I believe that you have to reflect already in the beginning on the theme you are to learn, and assessment or evaluation every day or week is too much for the students, I opt for the following approach:

-       self-assessment at the beginning and clarification of learning goals

-       option to either reflect regularly on certain topics during the course or final exam on the same material

-       interim assessment of study progress (e.g. open book exam) and self-assessment of learning goals

-       hand in of study journal or final exam

-       course summit including evaluation on course content and teaching performance, self-evaluation of learning goals.

I shall look more into this when I start preparing for teaching practice :-)