Assessment in education settings is an ongoing process which requires planning, discussion, reflection, analysing and improving based on the data collected. To collect an in-depth understanding of the student’s knowledge, a balance approach of assessment is essential. This essay will first explore a balanced approach in prior to school settings in relation to early years learning framework. Secondly, diagnostic, formative and summative assessment in a school setting will be discussed in relation to a balanced approach of assessment. Finally, the need for a balanced approach will be thought about in regards to the evidence provided.
Assessment in the early years is the process of continual data collection about the student’s learning and using this data to make adjustments to the curriculum, environment and schedule to suit the needs of the class. To collect the data, observations recorded as learning stories and anecdotal records have been the preferred method. However, this led to concerns about the narrowing view of assessment within early childhood education (Fraser & McLaughlin, 2016, p. 8). As stated by Zhang (2015, p. 69), assessment in early childhood should not rely on one method of collection, rather provide a range of ways for student’s to demonstrate their understanding. The data collected from using a balanced approach to assessment provides opportunities to gather a diverse range of documentation that displays a more thorough picture of the learning and
The article Formative and Summative Assessment in the classroom has several of strategies to guide teachers to assess the students learning more effectively. Although their strategies method associated with the instructional phase of a lesson, there are also important to teach students so they could become independent. For instance, the author mentions, “Self and peer assessment” not only does it encourage students to be
In 1989 a group of voluntary researchers named the Assessment Reform group (ARG) were formed by the British Educational Research Association (BERA). The group had the task to take account of relevant research and evidence in regards to assessment for policy and practice. In 1996 BERA’s support ceased and was taken over by the Nuffield Foundation till the ARG dissolved in 2010. It was in 1996 that the foundation funded Paul Black and Dylan Wiliam members of the ARG to review literature on the use of assessment to help with learning. As a result, evidence was found that ‘formative assessment’ could help to improve learning and the findings were published under the title ‘Inside the black box’. The ARG was one of significant influences on the design of Scotland’s Assessment is for Learning (AfiL) initiative which aimed to develop assessment in learning in Scottish schools. This essay will discuss and explore how effective formative assessment of pupils’ progression can be carried out.
Effective assessment will identify individual educational needs of all children as well as informing them about their specific performances and achievements, this will then allow teachers to use approaches that are personalised to the needs of a child. Assessment can be used not only to measure learning but also to promote learning by teaching pupils how to ask questions as well as answering them, by emphasising to a child that it is acceptable to ‘have a go’ and that by giving the wrong answer is still an opportunity to learn. It further provides the student with an understanding of what levels they are working at, what level they would like to working towards, and plan on how they are going to reach that level.
The purpose of assessment and planning with children and young people in residential childcare is to identify their needs and abilities and then how staff can work with that child or young person and then also develop any of their needs. Planning takes into account the real needs of an individual young person, their age, likes and dislikes, goals, levels of ability etc. This is done to ensure that individual goals and targets are appropriate and fair. Young people will be most interested in activities and experiences that are designed to be relevant to them; therefore, they are able to learn more effectively.
Assessment is a valuable tool to measure students learning and achievement. It is an essential element for teacher to reflect on what and how they teach. To assess students is to collect evidence of their learning. Teachers use the information to modify their lesson plans and adjust their instructional methods; students need feedback on their performance to concentrate on their vulnerable areas. Assessment is necessary for parents to reinforce their children strength and assist them where extra attention is required. The data collected will inform school
Assessment frameworks are the way in which a child is assessed to see whether they have any particular needs, what they are and how we can help them be met. It is useful in deciding whether a child has reached expected milestones. Assessment frameworks may be summative or formative. Formative assessments are used to check progress and helps us to consider learning opportunities needed to progress. The ongoing observations we do of children are formative assessments. They inform the next steps of the childs learning. Summative assessment provides staff with information about the attainment of knowledge and is usually measured against a benchmark or standard. For example, the EYFS assessment which is done toward the end of the reception year. This “sums up” all the different information from
Through the identification of these assessment methods, I will analyse their purpose and the role that they play in my learner’s development; and how these are used to identify learner progress and confirm their knowledge and understanding. I will explore theories and principals of assessment, covering formative and
In the first three years of primary school, educators are required to use a number of assessment categories to assist them to evaluate and monitor children’s progress. This allows educators to understand where students are in their learning (School curriculum and standards authority [SCASA], 2014). The purpose of these assessments is to gather and analyse information about children from a large range of contexts, including written, pictorial, audio as well as children’s interactions with others, including their families and communities, this can be known as pedagogical documentation (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett, & Farmer, 2015). Assessment purposes and assessment principles allow for educators to guarantee that a student’s achievement is measured in a meaningful way using the
The 1980s brought a new reform movement in education, accompanied by a new emphasis on testing. The effort to improve education at all levels included the use of standardized tests to provide accountability for what students are learning. Minimum competency tests, achievement tests, and screening instruments were used to ensure that students from preschool through college reached the desired educational goals and achieved the minimum standards of education that were established locally or by the state education agency. As we continue in a new century, these concerns have increased.
The early childhood are the most vital time for learning, therefore observations, assessments, planning and evaluation are an important part of the curriculum for children’s
Recently, whenever I hear current teachers discussing about assessing students, ‘Formative Assessment’ is sure to be highlighted. Nowadays this method (formative assessment) is becoming popular among schools and is being applied widely in schools including my own school. Loughland and Kilpatrick (2015) identified in the few past decades, formative assessment has turned out to be the main goal for teachers and educational systems. On the foundation of Loughland and Kilpatrick (2015) findings and from my experience in the field of teaching, I found out nowadays teachers and school stakeholders strongly feel that formative assessment is the best method to assess in order to enhance students’ learning. For these evident reasons, I am interested in finding
Teachers are aware of what they should do in the classroom when teaching young children. Teachers should provide opportunities to develop positive dispositions toward learning when working with young children to make sure they are using their knowledge and skills. Teaching young children, the skills that need to learn about is the big key of understanding what the information that you will need when you are assessing the young children. In this paper, the reader will read about observation and documentation as assessment and why is it important? The reader will also read about the difference between looking at and authentically or genuinely observing a child, the types of documentation, two types of documentation that relate how teachers use the documentation in the classroom and how documentations would be useful as assessments.
The essay explores about Assessment and its types , its uses in the field of education. How assessments works how it can be helpful for students and teachers. How the forms of assessments fit its purposes. Educational assessment is the process in which collecting of data from different sources occurs in order to improve students learning and also to improve the teaching skills of teachers. This gathered data is then analyzed and is used to understand about the level of students knowledge whether the students have achieved the level that was intended to achieve.
Assessment is the systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs undertaken for the purpose of improving student learning and development (Palomba & Banta, 1999). Educational assessments are carried out to measure the efficiency of the program, the quality of instruction and progress of a child’s learning. The purpose is to determine the growth and development.