Explain the role of Assessment in teaching and learning process. 1.1 Explain the function of assessment in learning and development.
“Assessment is a way of finding out if learning has taken place. It enables you to ascertain if a student has gained the skills, knowledge and/or attitudes needed at a given point towards their programme of learning”. Gravells (2010 page 110). It is primarily a gauge for the teacher and student to be able to measure progress against set criteria. Assessment can be broken down according to its purpose, that of assessment for learning, assessment as learning, assessment of learning and evaluation.
Assessment for learning may begin with initial and diagnostic assessments where a teacher can learn from a student any previous learning/study that will assist in the forthcoming teaching. This can take the form of testimonies from previous teachers, portfolios, certificates and conversation. This will allow the teacher to identify a starting point and capability of a student to achieve the required outcome in the learning they are about to perform. In my own role of teaching Professional Updates the students will present a workbook linked with the coming PU lesson which they will have completed prior to the PU training. I will examine and mark the workbook to check on their knowledge and understanding. This will give me an indication of a student’s strengths and weaknesses before the training commences and allows me to tailor the lesson plan to work to these indicators.
Within the assessment for learning is the screening assessment, similar to the diagnostic assessment but this focuses on where a student has a learning difficulty and enables a teacher to identify what form of support that student will need to enable them to complete the lesson and to acquire the same level of achievement as other students. Examples of students with