The A Word

Do teachers really have to give all those paper/pencil tests that students dread taking every time? Well, let's talk about assessments. Assessments are a huge part of learning and serve as a tool for teachers to see where their students are in their learning. Teachers can certainly begin to move away from all the traditional ways of testing and think outside the box. First, let's discuss the different types of assessments that can sometimes get confusing. So we have informal assessments where the teachers is assessing the students as they progress through the lesson. These assessments do not have a grade attached to them. They are just a way for teachers to check in with the students and see if they are grasping the content. This can be as easy as walking around as students are working and listening to conversations and looking at the work they have done so far. This always takes place DURING the learning not after. Then we have formal assessments. This is a structured type of testing that takes place AFTER the learning. These assessments have to be valid and reliable. They are structured and it shows the teacher what the student knows. 

Then we have formative assessments, these can range from discussions to journal entries to even hand signals to get a quick response amongst the entire class. Formative assessments are just a quick check up to see what the student knows and what needs to be reiterated. Lastly, there are summative assessments. These assessments come at the end of a chapter or a unit. THESE DO NOT HAVE TO BE A PRE-WRITTEN MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST. Get creative with how you give your summative assessments! Have your students do a performance about the topic or give a speech. They could create a presentation or create a skit demonstrating their knowledge about a certain topic. There are so many ways around just giving the mundane paper/pencil end of the chapter tests. Sometimes those are necessary and I understand that, but don't fall into a rut where that is all you are giving your students. Give them something to look forward to at the end of the unit. Think about how we are assessed in the real world. It usually is not by a written test. If I want a job I have to interview for that job and that might require me to have a speech prepared or a presentation. When principals come to evaluate you as a teacher, they come to see what your DOING. They usually do not compose a 20 question multiple choice test and give it to you to assess your teaching. Think about how your assessments you give your students affect their future. Will they leave your classroom with skills that they will need in the real world?

I learned a lot about this topic. I learned that assessments are so important and can be more than a traditional end of the unit test. Assessments can be given in various ways to assess the same skills. I plan to use the knowledge I have gained about this topic in my future classroom. I plan to think outside of the box and give my students assessments that they look forward to completing. I plan to give them assessments that are going to better prepare them for whatever their future entails.

This video gives some insight on formative assessment in the classroom