The basic meaning of an assessment is a method of collecting information from a student through tests, assignments formal or informal training, exams and then evaluating that performance through grades or a numbering system from which a student stands to know his knowledge and adaptability of certain functions in comparison to other in the end helping him gauge his abilities to apply that knowledge. The result could be his passing to another grade or advancing to another stage of evaluation, getting a degree, certification, accountability-to find out if students are learning according to a standard set by the institution, diagnosis, motivation-enhancing ones studies or learning on a day-to-day basis or a project approved.
Different types of assessments are present to help evaluators in ease of laborious jobs. Proficiency test are used for language abilities, aiming to improve a students work apply through instructions to optimize achievement leads to formative assessments and end of course assessments are summation assessments.
1. Brainstorming
A set of questions are given wherein it is decided if a single person or a group may work on the subject. Sometime is allotted to get the students mental juices flowing so that different ideas can be pooled in to solve the issue at hand. The teacher on hand should attentively listen to all ideas, encourage student to make notes, strike out those that will lead to dead ends and summarize the main points.
2. Concept Mapping
3. Decision Making
Finally the assessments needs to be analyzed and interpreted either in relation to others which is called norm related assessment or in relation to set standard which is criterion based assessment. Evaluation can also have multiple reference points for decision making based on an extensive judgment through experience training and evaluation theories used through time with alternative assessment activities. Also these assessments need to be reliable and valid in comparison to standards of other teaching grounds.
Future trend and direction of assessment
Computer generated/adaptive tests and online evaluation has made the whole system more transparent, decreased the variability of results that can be acknowledged as correct and immediate valuation means the student gets to know their results almost immediately.OMR sheets have decreased mistakes in human correction in the objective range of questions. The increased methodology to evaluate students have also brought about a sea change in tests wherein all round effectiveness in language, behavior, writing assignment, group project works ,self assessment have helped in making sound final decisions in grading students. This is a rapidly evolving field with new ideas brining about more changes to gauge a student’s strengths and weakness.
Works Cited
Brindley, Geoff. "Assessment." The Cambridge guide to teaching English to speaker of Other Languages Chapter 20 (n.d.): 137-142. PDF file. 25 December 2014.
Teaching Effectiveness, Teaching and Learning Center. Ed. University of Oregon. 26 September 2014. University of Oregon. 25 December 2014. <http://tep.uoregon.edu/resources/assessment/assess_inclass.html>.
