Assessment as Learning (AaL)
Finally, let us consider assessment as learning. AaL is part of assessment for learning and both approaches are formative. From teachers’ feedback to the students, they (the students) become more responsible for their learning. The students must, however, be guided by teachers. According to Berry (2008), AaL leaves the onus for learning on students and “encourages and demands deep learning on the part of the students” (Berry, 2008, p. 34). Berry (2008) highlights the fact that “students are their own assessors and they personally monitor and critically review what they are learning. With this monitoring and critical review, they make adjustments, adaptations, and even major changes to what they understand” (Berry, 2008, p. 34).
4 Comments
The definition of the word ‘assessment’ may have shifted from that of cooperation to competition. There is a need to revisit the original meaning of the word and devise assessment tasks that would promote student learning. The Latin word ‘assidere’ was all about assessment for learning where there was a good sense of students working together and sharing their ideas. Teachers would sit beside students and give one to one assistance where necessary. This is assessment for learning at its best where learning is improved.
In this approach the focus is on the process of learning and teachers’ role in the classroom become very significant in ensuring that learning takes place. Assessment for Learning (AfL) should be continuous and formative. The Wikipedia puts an explanation of Standard based assessment this way.
"In an educational setting, standards-based assessment is assessment that relies on the evaluation of student understanding with respect to agreed-upon standards, also known as "outcomes". The standards set the criteria for the successful demonstration of the understanding of a concept or skill". Standard based Assessment consist of three components.
1. Assessment of Learning (AoL) Berry (2008, p. 32) points out that “assessment of learning is mostly used for making summative judgment of students’ performances.” In addition, the author stresses that AoL is used to compare student’s performance against goals and standards or each other (Berry, 2008). In other words, AoL takes place at the end of the course and is mainly concentrating on the product of learning. In PNG context, the national examinations in grades 8, 10 and 12 are classical examples of AoL. The results of the examinations are used to select students to the next level of education based on their performances. The grade 8 students receive Basic Education Certificate, grade 10 students receive Lower Secondary School Certificate and grade 12 students receive Upper Secondary School Certificate. The certificates are awarded to students to confirm that they have completed the nationally prescribed subjects in the appropriate grades. In other words the national examinations in PNG have two main functions: for certification and for selection to the next level of education Many schools and education systems still place significant priority on measuring learning outcomes with scores, grades and marks. But this focus and emphasis often misses a bigger picture, and doesn’t take into account the process of learning. Assessment for Learning (i.e. formative, classroom, school-based assessments) focuses on information and feedback for the students to help progress and reach their learning goals, rather than evaluating student achievement. In addition, it allows teachers to use this information to improve the quality and effectiveness of their teaching. According to Stewart Monckton, Research Fellow at the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER), ‘the key aspect of AfL is that it places meaningful and timely assessment and feedback at the heart of everyday classroom teaching.’ Doug McCurry, Senior Research Fellow at ACER concurs, ‘I know of no other approach to teaching and learning that offers such potential improvements in learning.’
|
|