What is Assessment?

               What is assessment? Throughout this course, I have learned that assessment is not the same as evaluation. As defined by in, “Interweaving Curriculum and Classroom Assessment”, Evaluation is “summative assessment conducted at the end of an instructional period to measure achieved learning” (13). For example, a teacher may evaluate a student’s performance on a unit test, ensuring the students have learned the intended goals. 

               Assessment on the other hand, “is now considered classroom-based and includes diagnostic and formative feedback during the instructional period to improve learning” (13). The text continues stating that, “Formative Assessment refers to strategies that make student learning visible so that the teacher as well as the student can take steps to improve performance” (14). Essentially, assessment is the continual feedback given throughout the course, from beginning to end, where evaluation is the ending actions reporting how the students have done. 

               Assessment has 3 separate categories: Assessment For, Assessment As and Assessment Of. Each of these forms of assessment are different strategies to help both the teacher and students to form a plan on how to best achieve the set goals. 

               Assessment For is assessment that is done prior to beginning a topic or subject, where teachers can get a sense of student’s previous knowledge. For example at the start of a grade 9 geography class, the teacher may give a map quiz to the class. This would give the teacher a sense of the abilities of the students and give the teacher a place to start. 

               Assessment As is assessment that is done during instruction. This important form of assessment is used to ensure the teacher that students are understanding concepts. If students do not, teachers can adjust their strategies. An example of assessment as is exit cards after a lesson. This would let the teachers know to what level students understand concepts being taught. 

               Assessment Of is assessment that is done after instructional periods, such as the end of a unit or year. This form of assessment can provide students with grades and shows where the students have progressed. An example of this form of assessment is a unit test. 

                It is important to note that all 4 categories must be met throughout the year and carries roughly the same amount of weight (i.e. 25% Knowledge + Understanding, 25% Thinking, 25% Communication, 25% Application).