When considering objective assessments I think of tests that
may include multiple choice, true/false or constructed response questions.
These types of assessment were once the norm for assessing student learning in
education. Objective assessments may still be used but they shouldn’t be the
only method for assessing student learning. Students learn in a variety ways
and their learning should be assessed in various ways.
I can recall taking the ACT in high school and achieving
higher scores than many of friends. We were all good students with good grades.
The fact that I scored higher didn’t make me feel as if I was smarter than my
peers. When I became a teacher I realized what I thought as a student was true,
not all students are good test takers especially when it comes to standardized
tests. I witnessed students that understand the material throughout the week,
but for whatever reason perform poorly on the test. This is one reason that I
do not believe that tests are the only way to assess student learning. Students
should be able to showcase their learning and understanding using methods
beyond the traditional test.
During this week’s assignment each group was tasked to
identify 25 different types of assessments. Not all of these assessments would
be considered to be objective. There are various ways the students can be
assessed. For example, teachers can formally assess student learning on a daily
basis through exit tickets or by using an application such as Plickers. The use of these methods will provide teachers
with valuable information on student understanding throughout the unit.
Teachers no longer have to wait until the completion of a unit to find out
whether or not the material is understood. Also, creating digital portfolios
that will show student learning over a period of time can be used as a method
to assess students. Therefore, I believe that the test is no longer the only objective
assessment that can be used to assess the students.
Image References:
Assessment Tools [Online image]. Retrieved June 10, 2015 from http://www.informationliteracy.org/users_data/1711/Tools.jpg
Our Education System [Online image]. Retrieved June 10, 2015
from http://36.media.tumblr.com/c6a40c9e3695de6cc78c407055df395c/tumblr_mxbbv1q9PI1s7drjmo1_1280.jpg
