WHAT ARE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION?
Assessment and evaluation are systematic examinations of whether students as a whole are achieving the learning outcomes which have been developed for a course or program. Assessment provides the "big picture" of whether students are meeting learning objectives.
Assessment and its importance
Assessment of student academic achievement is the process of evaluating whether students are learning what we say they are learning. More specifically, assessment is the systematic collection, review, and use of information to increase students' learning and development.
Assessment is important for several reasons:
- Assessment results provide information that helps faculty determine how they might improve curses and/or programs through changes in curriculum, teaching methodologies, course materials, or other areas.
- Most important, assessment is a tool that leads to a continuous cycle of improved student learning.
Evaluation: Measurement of a learner's ability and/or achievement
Should be considered at the beginning and end of a program:
- Initial assessment- informs the teacher of the student's base knowledge
- Median assessment (ongoing)- informs the teacher of how the students are receiving, interpreting and processing the instruction while it is happening
- Final learner assessment- informs the teacher of what the student has come away with at the end of instruction
Common assessment and evaluation methods and tools:
- Tests (not really applicable!)
- Rubrics- rating system based on specific, measurable learning goals
- Portfolio- should show a student's development over time
- Teacher Observation- a continuous practice of determining how students are responding and receiving instruction
For more information on designing assessments and evaluations, visit:
www.umass.edu/aes/learningpartners
In CONTENT column, click on Learning Partnership Evaluation Workbook.
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