Week 2: What is Assessment?

Assessment is the process of gathering and discussing information from multiple and diverse sources in order to develop a deep understanding of what students know, understand, and can do with their knowledge as a result of their educational experiences; the process culminates when assessment results are used to improve subsequent learning.  (Learner-Centered Assessment on College Campuses: shifting the focus from teaching to learning by Huba and Freed 2000)
I believe assessment of any form is very important. it allows for teachers to track their students progress. I don't think assessment should just be all about test. Personally, I was never great taking test even though I would know all the information.

A Taxonomy of Approaches to Assessment

(Terenzini, Patrick T., “Assessment with open eyes: Pitfalls in studying student outcomes.” Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 60, No. 6, pp. 644-664, November/December 1989)

Fundamental Components of Assessment

Four fundamental elements of learner-centered assessment:

 

• Formulating Statements of Intended Learning Outcomes – statements describing intentions about what students should know, understand, and be able to do with their knowledge when they graduate.
• Developing or Selecting Assessment Measures – designing or selecting data gathering measures to assess whether or not our intended learning outcomes have been achieved.  Includes
• Direct assessments – projects, products, papers/theses, exhibitions, performances, case studies, clinical evaluations, portfolios, interviews, and oral exams – which ask students to demonstrate what they know or can do with their knowledge.
• Indirect assessments – self-report measures such as surveys – in which respondents share their perceptions about what graduates know or can do with their knowledge.
• Creating Experiences Leading to Outcomes – ensuring that students have experiences both in and outside their courses that help them achieve the intended learning outcomes.
• Discussing and Using Assessment Results to Improve Teaching and Learning – using the results to improve individual student performance.

(Learner-Centered Assessment on College Campuses: shifting the focus from teaching to learning by Huba and Freed 2000)



Taken from University of Connecticut website. http://assessment.uconn.edu/why/index.html