Assessment Principles and Practices

Study Notes

Assessment involves systematically collecting, measuring, and interpreting information about learners' responses to instruction.
It's a continuous process of identifying, gathering, and interpreting information to gauge performance.
Includes four steps: generating and collecting evidence, evaluating evidence, recording findings, and using information.
Assessment should be both informal (assessment for learning) and formal (assessment of learning) with regular feedback provided to learners.
Performance information helps teachers and others understand and assist the learner's development to improve learning and teaching.

Assessment should include ethics, fairness, sufficiency, currency, authenticity, reliability, validity, and learning domains.
Flexible to consider diverse learning styles and multiple learning styles.
Equitable in duration and content, simple and difficult levels.
Efficient, free of errors and conducted within reasonable timeframes.
Incremental, provides continuous follow-up assessment opportunities with regular feedback.
Redeemable, provides multiple opportunities to improve grades.
Demanding, not overly simple.
Authentic, assessment tasks allow learners to experience learning outcomes.
Accountable, meets the requirements of the profession.
Transparent, no hidden agendas or surprises for learners.

Fair, does not hinder a learner and considers equity among learners.
Valid, measures what it says it is measuring, ensuring alignment between assessment and learning outcomes.
Reliable, ensures consistency in assessment regardless of assessor, time, or location.

Evaluation uses information gathered from assessment to make informed judgments or decisions.
It involves subjective judgment of the worth or quality of a learner's development.

Classroom assessment is designed to serve the specific information needs of its users.
Based on clearly articulated and appropriate achievement targets.
Accurately measures student achievement.
Yields results effectively communicated to intended users.
Involves students in self-assessment, goal setting, tracking, reflection, and sharing their learning.

Learners should have opportunities to articulate and test their understanding of key areas and receive informed and constructive feedback.
Provide options for various assessment methods like exams, essays, presentations, demonstrations, reports, visual journals, multimedia presentations, and group discussions.
Offer opportunities for continuous assessment alongside subject delivery.
Consider the weighting given to ongoing assessment tasks.
Examine how examinations and assessments can be inclusive.