In education, assessment can be defined as the act of determining the students’ level of understanding or ability to apply what is learnt in class. Assessment gives students an opportunity to exercise and horn their skills in aspects such as problem solving, critical thinking, application knowledge and understanding of what is happening around them. Assessment is done progressively and can be categorized into three stages; baseline assessment, formal assessment, and summative assessment.
Assessment is an important exercise because it helps the instructor to determine what tools or strategies to use when teaching. Besides this, assessment helps instructors grade their students. This kind of grading helps an instructor or teacher know how to handle each individual student, based on their level of understanding. On the other hand, self assessment helps students learn how to conduct their own researches and personal study sessions. This is because students are able to inquire and apply what they learn in class. Assessment helps one evaluate if they have met the set objectives and goals. In the chance that the goals are not met, there is the opportunity to do things right. In other words, assessment creates room for improvement and resetting of goals. In addition to the above, assessment provides a framework of accountability. If an assessment gives good results, those incharge are given credit. This goes on to attract external attention.
Assessment has been given high priority. This is because of its numerous importances and benefits. Another reason is that data collected from the assessment is used to help make plans and schemes. Positive results are used to set standards and to keep everyone motivated to work harder so as not to achieve any less.
In conclusion, assessment is a very important exercise that all learning institutions should take seriously. This is because it helps the instructors, teachers, tutors and anybody else that is responsible to determine if they are doing well and if otherwise, what should be done to ensure excellence.
Works cited
David Lambert, David Lines. Understanding assessment: purposes, perceptions, practice.
London: Routledge, 2000.
Linda Suskie, Banta. Assessing student learning: a common sense guide. New Jersey: John
Wiley and Sons, 2009.
Walvoord, Barbara E. Assessment Clear and Simple: A Practical Guide for Institutions,
Departments, and General Education. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, 2010.
