Assessment for Learning - Meaning and definition

Assessment for learning is the approach of teaching that creates feedback that is used to improve the performance of students and teaching methods. There are various types of assessments that teachers use. This one is also known as a summative assessment. This method is adopted considering the age and the ability of the students.

Teachers include assessments for learning to monitor students regularly and modify their teaching methods as per requirement. Its purpose is to gather information about students and make a decision through that information to ensure they are responding to the learning. Let us discuss the benefits of assessment for learning.

Improved teaching practices: assessments help teachers evaluate how students are performing, how effectively the current teaching practices are working, and what more needs to be done for improvement.

Improved student confidence level: the assessment scores and grades boost the confidence level of the students and motivate them to do better.

Develops a healthy competitive environment: students effectively compete to score the best grades, rank, or scores. This develops a healthy learning environment where students have high zeal and interest to be on the top.

To identify and focus more on the slow learners: assessment for learning helps teachers to identify the weak or slow performers. Remedial classes and extra teaching efforts can be made to academically help such students.

This assessment defines if the teaching methods are meeting the learning structure of students or if they need improvement. It measures, evaluates, and records the academic readiness and the skills acquired by students.

Some of the strategies used in these types of assessment for learning are examination, appraisal, and evaluation. This concept makes teachers understand where the students are in the learning structure and how to proceed with them. Assessment for learning not only helps improve learning methods but also has a direct relation to the overall system improvement. Pen and paper mode of conducting assessment is monotonous and quite boring for some students. To make learning more fun, and effective, teachers can opt for online mode. Making PowerPoint presentations, multiple choice questions, and online quizzes can be planned.

It has been observed that a child builds “mental maps” to understand and respond to experiences and situations. This development of a child’s mental growth with age and their ability to react to these changes during this stage. This is why academic educators must plan their learning structures around the child’s age and understanding skills.

Teachers must emphasize the critical role these experiences play in a child’s mental growth. This makes students gain self-confidence, and they become more involved in the learning process to gain their benefits.

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