ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING

Role of Assessment in Teaching & Learning

It is a common misconception that grading and assessment are one and the same. While assessment in schools involves assigning grades, it is more than that for both the teacher and the learner. By assessing what the student knows, how he learns and how he compares to his peers, the teacher and student can work together to set appropriate learning goals.
Assessing what a student knows is not as simple as it might sound. Students must express what they know for the teacher to effectively evaluate it. Whether verbally, through writing or by some other tangible expression, the student must demonstrate to the teacher that he knows the material. Using varied assessment methods to reach all types of learners is most effective.

How a Student Learns
In order to devise lessons that result in student learning, the teacher must also consider how students learn. Different types of learners require different types of lessons. For example, a student who learns best visually will learn better from visual stimuli like photos or demonstrations where a tactile learner needs to move around or learn by doing. Once the teacher and student have assessed how the student best acquires knowledge, they can work to structure his working environment accordingly.