ASSESSMENT
Who is it really for?
“Assessment is not about you as a teacher; it is about your students” (Lopez, 2013, p.97).
I agree with the perspective that assessment shouldn't be solely about teacher and institution performance, but more about the whom the assessment is really for, the student. Not to say that assessment shouldn't be a useful tool to develop or adapt curriculum to better meet the needs of learners, but the focus of assessment should always be well-balanced and sensible in devotion of developing greater outcomes for whom it's really all about, the students.
DEFENDING OUR ASSESSMENT PRACTICES
I actively participate in assessments to not only help guide my lessons to meet students' needs, but also to ensure that students are reaching their achievement potential. My students are aware of how, when, and why they are being assessed throughout the sessions and the steps they must achieve for every level to ultimately reach their goals. This assures assessments "include a deep focus on student involvement because it inevitably leads to student achievement" (Lopez, 2013, p. 98). Summative assessments are determined and created by Curriculum Developers at my institution to ensure proper placements are conducted on an ongoing basis. I see the value of these assessments for criteria indicators and target achievement goals, which are set in place to also prevent level creeping. Assessments that we, as instructors, are at liberty to create would be formal assessments to determine pace and understanding of the key material. Fortunately, instructors have a wealth of resources to aid in choosing or developing such assessments so that new instructors are not at a loss of how to deliver assessments.
Partners in Assessment
I’ve succeeded to make students a partner in assessment by actively involving them in how they will achieve their goal of proceeding to the next level while reaching for their ultimate goal of program completion. They are always reminded of the requirements of each class, level, and target achievement goals to take responsibility for learning and realize their success.
ELS Levels & Skills Chart
(ELS Educational Services (2015)
References
ELS Educational Services, Inc. (2015, January 1). Retrieved April 30, 2015, from http://www.els.edu/en/DiscoverELS/LTC
Lopez, Damen. (2013). No Excuses University: How Six Exceptional Systems Are Revolutionizing Our Schools (2nd ed.). Turnaround Schools Publications.