An Formal Study Of Assessments - 1322 Words

Even before beginning the formal study of assessments, it is clear that there are many serious problems with the ways in which students, teachers, and schools are assessed in this country. Studies have shown us what needs to be done, the research all points to the same conclusion – we are doing it wrong. Despite the fact that assessment, informally, is a consistent part of our everyday lives, we still place so much weight on standardized methods which provide no context, few allowances for socioeconomic status, disabilities, or second language acquisition. These are methods which do not assess the whole child for individual strengths and struggles, but which serve to standardize them – an impossible and undesirable result. There is no need for assessment to be so contrived and complicated. Making it so not only skews the results to the point of invalidity, but also creates an unnatural practice out of something that is already in our nature. From the time we are very small, we are assessors. We are constantly testing ourselves and the world around us, looking for information that will help us keep moving forward, keep learning and keep growing. Little by little, we begin to make sense of our environment by experimenting with what we can do and what we cannot†¦yet. We experiment with what effect the objects and substances and creatures we encounter may have on us; what those things are. Does that yellow crayon taste as good as it looks? Can I let go and do it myself, or willShow MoreRelatedFormal Assessment Vs Informal Assessment1675 Words   |  7 Pagesthat can be complicated. Formal Assessment vs Informal Assessment Both formal and informal assessments are used to help students meet specific standards (Yell, 2006). They are also used to identify a student’s strengths and weaknesses in the child’s performance, which can improve the quality of teaching and learning (Yell, 2006). Formal assessment is the use of specific assessments to determine the level of learning the student is at (McLaughlin, 2006). Formal assessment strategies may include,Read MoreEvaluation Of Assessment And Evaluation1062 Words   |  5 PagesAssessment and Evaluation Introduction Assessment and Evaluation are two very different aspects in the realm of education that appears to be fairly similar, both are the different sides of the same coin which is testing. The marked differences in both assessment and evaluation are especially important. Assessment refers to the referral and collection of data to describe or better understand an issue, whereas evaluation is done by referring to data by comparing data in order to judge and decideRead MoreInformal Assessments : Observation Of Everyday Performance1274 Words   |  6 Pages Informal assessments includes the observation of everyday performance. This is the method in which teachers collect information about their students’ performance in usual classroom conditions. Informal assessments are a part of the instructional process and can include â€Å"systematics observations, work sample analysis, task and error analysis, interviews and questionnaires’† (Sacks, 2011). It is done without establi shing test conditions such as in the case of formal assessment. Teachers must be roleRead MoreThe Assessment Methods Used By Speech Language Pathologists1390 Words   |  6 Pages A study by Skahan, Watson Lof (2007) examined the assessment methods used by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) when assessing children with suspected speech sound disorders (SSD). Through a national survey, the study also examined the assessment of non-native English speakers and the length of the assessment process (Skahan, Watson Lof, 2007). The study was pursued due to a lack of research regarding the assessment methods used by SLPs to identify children with SSD. Previous research byRead MoreEffective Instruction For English Learners1414 Words   |  6 Pagesparticipate and exchange information with each other. At the end of the article, the author mentions how ICT can really motivates students and improves their independent learning. Summary four: Using state assessments for teaching English language learners Luster (n.d ) starts the article â€Å"Using state assessments for teaching English language learners† by states the number of English Language Learners (ELL) in the united states in general and in California particullary, and how most of teachers are â€Å"unprepared†Read MoreThe Article Learning Through Play : Portraits, Photoshop And Visual Literacy Practices `` Written By Michelle A1020 Words   |  5 Pagescreativity in education. But there should be a formal assessment to prove this. Next an area of critique is the fact that the article highlights the success if the program without once mentioning how it was funded which raises question. Honeyford and Boyd believe that â€Å"research in early childhood education demonstrates the vital importance of play to young children’s linguistics, social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.†(p.65). This particular study was about an afterschool program in CanadaRead MoreLink Between Autism And Noonan Syndrome1135 Words   |  5 Pagesthis study was characterized as a formal assessment. They were as follows: The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children- Revised, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, and Test of Problem Solving skills. For speech and language evaluation specifically, the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Revised was given. (Ghaziuddin, Bolyard, Alessi, 1994) Wilson and Dyson (1982) targeted speech and language characteristics of children with Noonan Syndrome. They used the following assessments to evaluateRead MoreEssay about Princilples of Assessment Unit 12 Pttls1553 Words   |  7 PagesUnit 012 Principles of assessment in lifelong learning The types of assessment a trainer will use in lifelong learning include initial, diagnostic, independent assessment, formative, summative, internal, external, formal and informal assessment. â€Å"Assessment is a way to find out if learning has taken place.† Tummons (2007: p5) Gravells (2011:p91), describes the assessment cycle in the following terms; â€Å"the initial assessment, assessment planning, assessment activity, assessment decision and feedbackRead MoreComponents Of Reading Essay1282 Words   |  6 Pagesliteracy activities† (p. 41). Syntax, semantics, phonology, and pragmatics are the four key components that make up oral language. To determine whether or not students are developing their oral language, teachers must monitored it using informal assessments, such as observations, asking questions, and singing songs. Phonological Awareness Phonological awareness is the skills that helps students identify and manipulate units of oral language. According to Phonological awareness (2016), â€Å"children whoRead MoreAre Four Kinds Of Assessments?935 Words   |  4 Pagesfour kinds of assessments. One initial assessment: A progress during which start to build up a picture of a leaner’s achievements, skills, previous learner, goals and learning needs. This will help to place learners in appropriate learning programmes. Assessment number two is diagnostic assessment: A detailed assessment of a learner’s existing skills and areas of need with respect to a particular subject area. Assessment number three is formative assessment; this is an ongoing assessment of what process