QUESTION
Discuss the scope and significance of assessment in higher education. Identify
different kinds of assessment techniques used by the university teacher.
Course: Higher Education
Course code 8625
Level: B.Ed Solved Assignment
ANSWER
Scope and significance of assessment in higher education.
I'm sure you know
the feeling of anticipation when you are about to take a quiz or test. Did you take detailed class notes and study
enough? And you surely have been assigned various essays. Did you
give yourself enough time to research, write, and revise your essay to meet the requirements? Exams and essays along with speeches and
projects are forms of assessment. Assessment
is a critical
step in the learning process. It determines whether or not the course's learning
objectives have been
met. A learning objective is what students should
know or be able to do by the time a lesson is completed. Assessment
affects many facets of education, including student grades, placement,
and advancement as well as curriculum, instructional needs, and school
funding.
The
Effects of Assessment
Student Learning:
Assessment is a key component of learning because it helps students learn. When students can see how they are doing in a class, they can determine whether or not they understand the course material. Assessment can also help motivate students. If students know they are doing poorly, they may begin to work harder.
Imagine this situation:
Johnny is a
chemistry student. He just took his first exam in his class. He earned 56%; he
needs 79% to pass the class. The low exam score lets Johnny know that he
missed something important he should have learned. Perhaps, he did not
understand the material, or maybe he did not study long enough. Whatever
the case, the assessment results let Johnny know that he did not
successfully learn the material and that he must try something new to earn a better score.
Teaching:
Just as assessment
helps students, assessment helps teachers. Frequent assessment allows teachers
to see if their teaching has been effective. The assessment also allows teachers to
ensure students learn what they need to know to meet the
course's learning objectives.
Imagine this situation:
Pre-assessment or diagnostic assessment
Before creating the instruction, it’s necessary to know for what kind of students you’re creating the instruction. Your goal is to get to know your student’s strengths, weaknesses, and the skills and knowledge they possess before taking the instruction. Based on the data you’ve collected, you can create your own instruction.
Formative assessment
Formative assessment is used in the first attempt at developing instruction. The goal is to monitor student learning to provide feedback. It helps identify the first gaps in your instruction. Based on this feedback you’ll know what to focus on for further expansion of your instruction.
Summative assessment
Summative assessment is aimed at assessing the extent to which the most important outcomes at the end of the instruction have been reached. But it measures more: the effectiveness of learning, reactions to the instruction, and the benefits on a long-term basis. The long-term benefits can be determined by following students who attend your course, or test. You can see whether and how they use the learned knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Read more about formative and summative assessments.
Confirmative assessment
When your instruction has been implemented in your classroom, it’s still necessary to take the assessment. Your goal with confirmative assessments is to find out if the instruction is still a success after a year, for example, and if the way you're teaching is still on point. You could say that a confirmative assessment is an extensive form of a summative assessment.
Norm-referenced assessment
This compares a student’s performance against an average norm. This could be the average national norm for the subject of History, for example. Another example is when the teacher compares the average grade of his or her students against the average grade of the entire school.
Criterion-referenced assessment
It measures
students’ performances against a fixed set of predetermined criteria or learning
standards. It checks what students are expected to know and be able to do at a
specific stage of their
education. Criterion-referenced tests are used to evaluate a
specific body of
knowledge or skill set, it’s a test to evaluate the curriculum taught in a
course.
Ipsative assessment
It measures the performance of a student against previous performances from that student. With this method, you’re trying to improve yourself by comparing previous results. You’re not comparing yourself to other students, which may be not so good for your self-confidence.Related Topics
Quality and Access in Higher Education and Life long Learning
The Future of Higher Education and the Role of Technology in Distance Education
Concept and Nature of Financing in Education
Comparison Between German and Pakistan Higher Education
Need and Scope of Research in Higher Education
National Education Policy 2009
Different Organizations in the Development of Higher Education in Pakistan
Status of Higher Education in Pakistan and Planning of Higher Education in Pakistan
Higher Education in Socio-Economic Development and Importance of Education in Economic Development
No comments:
Post a Comment
If you have any question related to children education, teacher education, school administration or any question related to education field do not hesitate asking. I will try my best to answer. Thanks.