I don't know who said it but I like the saying. It's only when we start to judge others that our own actions really dawn on us! We have to account for our own actions.
Like most of our students, I dread the word 'assessment'. It always has horrible connotations and conjures up images that are quite unpleasant! In fact it always caused me fever when I was young!
I love alternatives and choices as they bring freedom to choose! They accommodate for a variety of learning styles! No two human beings are exactly same, so how can we use one yardstick for all of them. The benchmark for learning must be set with the consent of the learners involved.
I've learned this week that exam fright is caused by the unpredictable nature of our conventional evaluation system. We can reduce it by letting the learners become in charge of their own learning and assessment process. They learn more when they own it: when they traverse the path mapped out by themselves, and head towards a destination set by themselves. Through alternative assessment they become aware of the indicators of success! It boosts their confidence and things become less murky!
Self and peer assessment sound less threatening. Peers don't have authority over you and they have to explain why they rate your performance high or low. It is only fair to assess oneself. After all who else can claim to understand your situation better than you yourself! Besides, others may point out the shortcomings in you but if you don't deem them wrong you're not going to improve, or are you?
Muhammad Rashid
Like most of our students, I dread the word 'assessment'. It always has horrible connotations and conjures up images that are quite unpleasant! In fact it always caused me fever when I was young!
I love alternatives and choices as they bring freedom to choose! They accommodate for a variety of learning styles! No two human beings are exactly same, so how can we use one yardstick for all of them. The benchmark for learning must be set with the consent of the learners involved.
I've learned this week that exam fright is caused by the unpredictable nature of our conventional evaluation system. We can reduce it by letting the learners become in charge of their own learning and assessment process. They learn more when they own it: when they traverse the path mapped out by themselves, and head towards a destination set by themselves. Through alternative assessment they become aware of the indicators of success! It boosts their confidence and things become less murky!
Self and peer assessment sound less threatening. Peers don't have authority over you and they have to explain why they rate your performance high or low. It is only fair to assess oneself. After all who else can claim to understand your situation better than you yourself! Besides, others may point out the shortcomings in you but if you don't deem them wrong you're not going to improve, or are you?
Muhammad Rashid
Hi Rashid,
ReplyDeleteGood to read your surgical reflections. Yes, summative assessment has really dented students' and teachers'academic career. It needs to be revised.
Tariq Hayat
Hi,
ReplyDeleteYour post reminded me a cartoon about traditional assessment. There are 5-6 animals waiting to be tested: an elephant, a giraffe, a snake, a monkey, etc. Each with different abilities. but the task is same for all: To climb the tree. you must see the expression on their faces :)
I believe alternative assessment might be a remedy to the wounds of students'caused by fears and anxieties. Of course our students are going to improve through a close inspection of the criticism made by others. Otherwise there is no change.But isn't the only thing that does not change is the change itself?
Hi Rashid,
ReplyDeleteYou are exactly correct on Assesments. The students dreaden the exams which happen in the end of a semester and they have to do all the studies in order to write answers to the term end paper. That was the system we had for all these days.
But things are changing now for the better. The students are learning more relaxly this way and they are less stressed. This saves them time to think innovatively and to come up with creative ideas. These new generations will learn well and do wonders this way.
Chandy