An Educational Crisis: The Need for Informal Assessment Essay

The practice of evaluating students and teachers based on expensive and stressful standardized testing has been the focus of educational reform for over a decade and has thus far proven to be ineffective (Ravitch 51).

Standardized tests are largely unnecessary, ineffective, and overused. Despite the enormous monetary resources and hours that companies pour into the making of standardized tests, the unholistic pen and pencil approach of these tests tends to assess students' test-taking ability rather than their actual intelligence. All this new testing leaves less time for classroom learning than generations past. This time may seem negligible at first; however, it adds up considering the number of ACTs, SATs, graduation and annual state tests students take over their academic career. What little time left is sacrificed for busy work and teaching for the tests. Nevertheless, who can blame teachers when the results of standardized tests determine their job performance? The tests were mainly designed to showcase the efforts of teachers and schools to the state, and a reduction of standardized tests is integral to fixing our educational

I am a strong believer that one test defines a students. Therefore, variety is key when assessing students. When using formative assessment I use student reflections, journal entries, exit cards in addition to non verbal communication such as thumbs up or down. I also make anadotal notes on students to help assess the overall learning journey of the student. When using summative assessments, I use district assessments, state assessments, portfolios, short answer, multiple choice, and student based projects. In all forms of assessments, students are provided the appropriate accommodations. My learning goal for assessing students is to have a valid assessment that demonstrate the student’s understanding of the specific skill. It is crucial that I understand the purpose of the assessments and the content that is being taught, therefore, I often start instruction with the assessment piece in

“…only twenty-two percent of those surveyed said increased testing had helped the performance of their local schools compared with twenty-eight in 2007” (“Public Skeptical of Standardized Testing.”). Furthermore the poll indicated an eleven percent increase, compared to last year, towards the favor of discontinuing the usage of students’ test results for teacher evaluations. William Bushaw, executive director of PDK International and co-director of PDK/Gallup Poll also stated, “Americans’ mistrust of standardized tests and their lack of confidence and understanding around new education standards is one the most surprising developments we’ve found in years” (“Public Skeptical of Standardized Testing.”). All in all, not only are these tests a concern for students, who are forced to sit through them, hoping to get a decent enough score to place into a class, receive their diploma, or even get accepted to the college of their dreams, but they are a concern for parents as well, who only want the best for their children and to see them succeed.

Assessing is a crucial component of education that informs teachers on individual development and understanding (Booker, Bond, Sparrow

Assessments should contribute to a student’s education and learning by including students in the learning process educators are able to assist and extend students learning (SCSA, 2014).

Education has been an important part of society for centuries. Over the years it has slowly evolved into what it is today. The topic of education has been controversial since the beginning. It seems as though there is always someone that sees a need for change in how students are being taught and assessed. More specifically, many people think that standardized testing is not an effective way to assess students. While on the other hand, many also believe that standardized testing is the most efficient and effective way to assess people of all ages. The debate over standardized testing has been shown to effect students and the community in many different ways. Standardized assessments have had huge impacts with both teachers and students. Whether one thinks standardized testing is effective and efficient or misdirecting and unproductive it is a big part of the educational system. While the argument may present that standardized tests leads to simulated knowledge, others argue that standardized tests are very effective in assessing students.

Describe and explain the ways in which assessment practice has the potential to impact students’ learning:

The United States of America has placed low on the educational ladder throughout the years. The cause of such a low ranking is due to such heavy emphasis on standardized testing and not individual student achievement. Although the United States uses standardized testing as a crutch, it is not an effective measure of a student’s ability, a teacher’s competency, or a school’s proficiency.

Assessment is all about making judgements. A major argument for involving students in self and peer-assessment is that it helps them to develop the ability to make judgements, in particular about themselves and their work. This is an important life skill as well as an academic one.

In the article Classroom and Formative Assessment in Second/Foreign Language Teaching and Learning written by Ketabi and Ketabi states the importance of utilizing formative assessments to drive instruction (2014). “Teachers should continuously assess their students in order to help teaching and learning progress” (Ketabi and Ketabi, 2014, p. 435). The article gives a brief overview of different forms of assessments. Ketabi and Ketabi go on to explain the difference between formal and informal assessments. Formal assessments thoroughly planned and developed to acquire evidence about a student’s success in prearranged times while informal assessments are “occasional and unplanned comments and feedback” (Ketabi and Ketabi, 2014, p.436). The article continues to

Assessments are integral parts of instruction, they determine whether classroom goals have been achieved, and help teachers know what areas they should focus on and maybe reteach. They are great tools for developing lesson plans and answer questions such as; “do my students possess full understanding of the material?” There are many ways of assessing students’ learning, one of which I have personal experience with are on-the-spot assessments.

Formal exams are useful in the fact that to some extent they do asses the thinking of the individual without the input of their peers or teachers ideas and therefore also avoid plagiarism. Exam results can also help with parent’s decision making on the best school of their child, as league tables give an indication to the performance of the school. Exam style of assessment can also provide teachers with the evidence needed for lesson plans as they give an understanding of what the child has understood and hasn’t understood. And since the education system is

Assessments provide learners opportunities to develop mastery of their ideas, skills and competencies, whilst educators use assessment tasks as both teaching and learning tools (Spiller, 2009:6 & 7).

Informal assessments is a technique for acquiring data that can be utilized to make judgments about students ' learning conduct and attributes or projects utilizing means other than standardized methods. I will guide the teacher to using the exiting card approach. Exit cards are a speedy evaluation instrument that instructors can use to bring awareness to becoming more mindful of student comprehension of concept taught. Exit cards are composed student reactions to inquiries postured toward the end of a class or learning action, or toward the end of a day. It can be utilized at any subject area and grade level. I will inform the teacher that this is a great method that can be utilize as a reflection of the student concept of the lessons taught and reflection of areas that the teacher can sharpen so that a stronger literacy environment can be bestowed.