Explain the Function of Assessments in Learning and Development

GROUP C – KNOWLEDGE BASED UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLES AND REQUIREMENTS OF ASSESSMENT 1. 1 EXPLAIN THE FUNCTION OF ASSESSMENT IN LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT Assessment can be used for many different purposes, including to identify students’ needs, plan and adapt courses, check that learning is taking place, motivate students, acknowledge learning and measure results. Assessment is used for various purposes. * Assessment for learning: where assessment helps teachers gain insight into what students understand in order to plan and guide instruction, and provide helpful feedback to students. Assessment as learning: where students develop an awareness of how they learn and use that awareness to adjust and advance their learning, taking responsibility for their learning. * Assessment of learning: where assessment informs students and teachers, as well as the broader educational community, of achievement at a certain point in time in order to celebrate success and support continued progress. Assessment must be planned with its purpose in mind. Assessment for, as and of learning all have a role to play in supporting and improving student learning, and must be appropriately balanced.The most important part of assessment is the interpretation and use of the information that is gathered for its intended purpose. Research and experience show that student learning is best supported when * Instruction and assessment are based on clear learning goals * Instruction and assessment are differentiated according to student learning needs * Students are involved in the learning process (they understand the learning goal and the criteria for quality work, receive and use descriptive feedback, and take steps to adjust their performance) Assessment is carried out to ensure that learning has taken place.If you do not assess the student you cannot assess their knowledge and skills in their learning area. The student needs guidance to understand what it is they have to learn, if they are doing well and how they may improve. Assessment is essential for this to happen. Assessment encourages students to ask questions on anything they have not fully understood and allows them to build on their strengths and learn from mistakes by listening to the assessor’s feedback.It is important that assessments are both valid and reliable. Validity relates to the question – does the assessment measure what it claims or appears to measure and can we make judgements based on the results of the assessment? The assessment must form a fair and balanced representation of the area of knowledge being assessed. Reliability relates to the accuracy of the marks or grades that result from the completion of the assessment.The results would need to be the same if the assessment was carried out by another person or directed to a similar student. In addition to being valid and reliable, assessments should also be: * Authentic – based on the candidate’s own work * Current – Still relevant/able to be completed at the time of the assessment * Sufficient – covering all the required elements. Word Count: 456