Assessment Matters

Assessment Matters
Makaiya M. Hart
Ashford University
September 30, 2014









2 Assessment Matters


Abstract
The roles of assessment in the classrooms are currently changing. Assessment is
the process of how learning is measured in the classroom. As educators we are trying to
move to a place where students actively engage in the learning process. Traditionally
assessments were something that teachers controlled that is not longer. One of the
interesting things about test scores is on the national and state level that is how realtors
determine great neighborhoods. Simply based on how teachers teach and students learn.
I believe that assessments should be used to see the before and after results of a
students learning. Assessments should also be used to determine how well teachers were
able to teach the information to students. If a teacher is effective in teaching and a student
is effective in learning the assessment should reflect.
In the past the teachers have based preparation for how they teach their classes on
a summative assessment. These assessments provide no feedback for how well student
did during the year. It also does not tell the students how they could improve all along. It
is just the final test that shows what was or was not retained.
In the text it states, For years, the controversy over high-stakes testing has had
proponents arguing the importance of holding districts, schools, teachers, and students
accountable for learning. (Newman, R) (pg.11.1) In the text it showed that people
stressed the importance of assessment. These assessments cause students to get worried,
cause the students to get anxiety, and sometimes even make the students sick. Shortly
Assessment Matters
after taking the exams the student wait for their results to determine if they go to the next
grade or not.
If we didnt put some much pressure on one exam I believe that creative teaching and
learning could flourish. Students would have time to receive feedback from their
teachers. Teachers could receive feedback from their students and that could help them to
make awesome lessons.
Assessments in my classroom will be hands on. Teaching Family and Consumer
science does not require much traditional work to exemplify learned knowledge but more
projects. For example if the assignment for the week is to sew and apron then the
assessment will be if the apron produced has all of the elements required. But my weekly
or bi weekly assessments will be building blocks leading up to my summative assessment
at the end of the class. They will help to create a culminating activity.
Formative assessment is defined as assessment that takes place during the learning
process to, optimally, modifies teaching and learning. In contrast, summative assessment
is defined as assessment that takes place at the end of a learning process or program to
determine mastery of the material and for accountability purposes, such as assigning a
grade. (Emanuel, Robinson, Korczak) pg. 1 (June 2013) Formative assessment in the
classroom is used to track student progress throughout. Summative assessment is used to
assess what had been learned when everything is all said and done.
I believe that we should use formative assessment to see what students are learning
during the school year. This type of assessment can help track the progress that the
students are making and it can help the teachers to plan future lessons based on what was
4 Assessment Matters

learned or what actually needs to be reviewed. Summative assessment should not be left
out we should use it to see what our students have retained throughout the entire school
year. If we use formative and summative assessment it makes for better results overall.
Teachers can use data from assessments to influence how they formulate their lesson
plans.
Students will be asked to describe the steps they would take to perform each of the
following transformations on a simple figure on a coordinate plane.
Translation two units to the left.(subtract two from the x-coordinate, plot points and
connect them. Reflection across the y-axis Change each x-coordinate to its opposite, plot
points and connect them. Rotation of 180 degrees about the origin. (Change both
coordinates to their opposites, plot points and connect them.
Teacher will be facilitating students while working in groups to make sure that
each student is on task and is correctly performing each transformation. Teacher will also
grade each students Closing activity and place students in ability groups for the next day
of class.
Conclusion
To conclude, assessments are very crucial to the teaching and learning process.
They can help the parents and students to see student progress. They can assist the
teachers in making effective lessons for students. Overall assessments roles will always
be important because the data they provide is invaluable. People use the data for more
than just students. Schools test scores are used to help realtors in the community
determine well to do communities. One of the factors that people consider when moving
are the schools in the area. How the schools get their rankings is based on student
Assessment Matters
performance or student test scores. Assessments matter and therefore we should work
hard to innovate and enhance the process as much as possible.
































References
6 Assessment Matters


Emanuel, Diana C.; Robinson, Candace G.; Korczak, Peggy. American Journal of
Audiology. Jun2013, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p14-25. 12p. DOI: 10.1044/1059-
0889(2012/12-0037). , Database: Academic Search Complete
Newman, R. (2013). Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century Connecting the
Dots. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education
Wormeli, Rick. (2010). Formative and Summative Assessment [Video
file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJxFXjfB_B4.html
TED. (2014, September). TEDxSoCal Dr. Brian Stecher Cultivating Thriving
Schools [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmYdW871pL4