Assessments
EDU650: Teaching Learning and Leading in the 21st Century
"Assessment is not about you as a teacher; it is about your students." - Damen Lopez
I do believe that students need to understand exactly what they need to get assessed on. If teachers continuously give assessments without giving them the "heads up," most all of them will be blind-sided and would poorly get assessed. Teachers are there not to rush teaching every subject and give assessments right away. They have to clearly understand each of their students better; what kind of learners they are and how they can achieve the best results.
Defending our Assessment Practices
- Why are you participating in the assessments that you use with students?
- Can you share in explicit detail the value that you find in each assessment?
- Do you participate in assessments that you find no value in for students?
- Are you using an assessment you have no idea how to deliver, but are afraid to ask for help with?
By keeping these four questions in mind, it will serve as guidelines and will make me a better educator. If I can explain to my students on why they need to get tested on something and they are ready, then I have done my job. The last thing I want is for my students to get frustrated because they were not ready for an assessment. Asking for help is definitely not something to be ashamed of. I would much rather ask someone for help than not be prepared for questions my students would have.
Reference:
Lopez, D. (2013). No excuses university: No excuses university: How six exceptional systems are revolutionizing our schools (2nd ed.) Turnaround Schools Publications.