Module 6 - Student Assessment

Student assessment has come a long way in the last decade or so. When I was in elementary school (several decades ago), student assessment generally consisted of taking a written test after being taught a lesson, chapter, or unit. The assessment was always graded for accuracy, and its purpose was to show how much information I had retained. It was rarely, if ever, used to help the teacher assess his or her teaching methods.

This module has helped me think about student-centered assessment in a whole new way. If teachers will adapt their assessment methodologies toward actually assessing how their students learn, then everyone in the classroom wins - student engagement increases and real learning occurs.

So, how do we make this shift as educators? We must learn to think about and assess our students' individual learning styles and interests. We must reflect on the 21st century skills our students will need to be successful in life. Next, we must design lessons that will engage our students and equip them to succeed. It is imperative that we move beyond the same old assessments and standardized tests that we likely experienced in the classroom. 

Fortunately, there are many technological tools available that will make this feat easier for busy educators. There are tools online, many of them free, that will assist educators as they assess their students' passions, learning styles, strengths, and weaknesses. Teachers are empowered to create simple surveys and administer them virtually to students, and data is captured and recorded to be used for many purposes, including teacher reflection. This will allow teachers to fine tune lessons that will capture the attention of their students and deliver content that is timely, relevant, and engaging.

In my future classroom, I plan to use Google Forms to administer a survey at the start of every school year. I will ask my students simple questions about themselves that will allow me to determine their learning styles, interests, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. This will help me tailor lessons, group projects, and assignments that will meet their individual and collective needs. I will reassess students midyear and end of year to monitor our progress.

I also plan to use Quizlet and Kahoot! to help me hone in on specific areas of weakness in my students' understanding. These fun and engaging tools will allow me to assess my students' content knowledge and see if I need to review material or move instruction in a new direction.