Assessments are not just about tests, grades, marks, and passes. This is a means of knowing where you stand as far as knowledge is concerned. Throughout the learning process, from evaluating progress to locating strengths and weaknesses, assessments are important. Let us learn more about what is Assessment and its types ?
What is assessment?
Assessment in education is used to assess, measure, or even understand an individual’s skills, knowledge, abilities, and performance.
Think of this as something that can give a view as to where one stands and how to proceed further. Assessments include various forms like tests, quizzes, observations, and feedback.
This set the course for decision-making strategies that would optimize growth.
Types OF Assessments:
Diagnostic Assessment: Uncovering Knowledge Gaps Before Learning Begins
Diagnostic tests are a diagnostic tool for both the educator and the learner. Taken before the start of any instruction, they will enable the identification of the learner’s pre-existing knowledge, strengths, and areas where improvement is needed. This type of assessment is central to tailoring appropriate future teaching and learning activities.
For example, a pre-course quiz identifying a student’s previous knowledge in any particular subject area would be a diagnostic assessment. This helps the teacher adapt their teachings to fit better with specific students’s learning requirements.
Formative Assessment: Feedback as You Go
Formative assessments assist in providing feedback during the learning process. They don’t indicate a final judgment but rather initiate ongoing improvement in understanding. This form of assessment allows the learner and educator to determine how well they understand a subject and helps them make changes during learning.
Quizzes, classroom discussions, and draft reviews are forms of formative assessment.
Summative Assessment: Summing the learning outcomes
Summative assessments are usually final evaluations that take place after instruction, such as at the end of a lesson or unit (or even course) to assess learning and achievement overall. They review what you have learnt and often add up to the final score or certification.
Final exams, end-of-term projects, or standardized tests are summative assessment tools.
Confirmative Assessment: Ensuring Long-Term Retention and Application
Confirmative assessments take place after learning has been completed to confirm that skills learnt have been retained and are still being applied by the learner. Confirmative assessments are done for periodic refamiliarization of learner objectives.
For example, a confirmative assessment in the workplace is used to check safety practices months after the training. Confirmative assessments would include spot checks, pop quizzes, refresher tests, etc.
Norm-Referenced Assessment: Performance in Comparison to Others
Norm-referenced assessments compare the individual performance against a larger group of people (a reference group). Such assessments will be useful in learning one’s performance in comparison with others.
Examples of this assessment are the standardized test scores (like SATs or GREs). These scores are compared to other people to say where one stands.
Criterion-referenced Assessment: Criteria-based
In a criterion-referenced assessment form, a student’s performance is measured to a pre-set aim or target.
The form compares students to learning objectives, not to one another.
In education, most assessments, like standardized tests and final exams, measure how well students meet specific criteria. In a business setting, these assessments could involve checking if an employee reached their sales target or followed safety procedures correctly.
Ipsative Assessment: Tracking Personal Progress and Growth
Ipsative assessment is introspective, looking at an individual’s present performance compared with the performance of that same individual in the past. This type of assessment underscores personal growth and improvement over time.
For example, a reflective journal in which a student monitors his/her progress and development over the semester.
Interim Assessment: Monitoring Progress Throughout the Learning Journey
Interim assessments occur at different times during a course to inform the progress on learning objectives. Interim assessments are given every 6 weeks, in the middle of a semester, for example. They help give feedback on whether the learners are on track.
Research findings have indicated that interim assessment is particularly useful for improving student performance for low achievers. It can also be applied in the workplace for continuous training programs. Examples of these include unit assessments, checkpoints, and progress monitoring assessments.
Skill-Based Assessment: Evaluating Proficiency in Specific Abilities
Skill-based assessments are primarily intended to measure abilities or competencies. They are tools used to measure proficiency in specific skills using performance-based or practical mediums.
The trainer and HR manager can use these to evaluate the results of training and to guide recruitment and selection processes. Examples include performance and technical assessments and proficiency tests.
Scenario-Based Assessment: Applying Knowledge to Simulated Situations
Scenario-based assessment includes using simulated reality so that the individual can be evaluated on how one solves any issues and makes decisions.
Examples of this type include case study evaluations, simulation and role-playing assessments, or situational judgement tests.
Behavioural Assessment: Observing Actions and Reactions
Behavioral assessments focus on evaluating actions and behaviours. These assessments are critical in developing an understanding of behaviours to change behaviours, often within educational or therapeutic settings.
Some methods of behavioural assessment are behaviour rating scales, structured interviews, and direct observation.
Personality Assessment: Understanding Traits and Preferences
Personality assessments deal with understanding individual traits, preferences, or behaviours that define the individual’s personality. One gains insight into how personality attributes influence learning styles and work performance.
This assessment includes self-report questionnaires like the Myers-Briggs type and projective techniques like inkblots or picture cards.
Conclusion:
“Assessment is the engine that drives student learning,” says educational innovator John Cowan.
Current research finds a 20% increase in learning outcomes for students involved in regular formative assessment. This supports the notion that assessments are a key component in providing a process for us towards progress and success.
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The various types of assessments can provide us with insight into our strengths and areas for growth. Each assessment, whether diagnostic or confirmative, would be a stepping stone in this ongoing learning journey.
As you move forward, let assessments guide you toward your ongoing journey of excellence and success!