READ | TEACHING @ | EVALUATING STUDENT LEARNING
designing | grading | learningThis section will guide you through the process of evaluating student learning, starting with designing assignments and exams, then moving to grading and giving feedback, and finally closing with learning from assessment. Within these sections, we'll address the variety of methods that can be used to assess student learning, including exams, written assignments, performances, and informal activities.
University instructors assess students' work in order to assign a grade--to make a summative judgment of an individual student's level of success or failure. However, assigning grades is only one of several reasons to assess student learning. An equally important reason is to provide formative feedback, both to the students as to how well each of them is learning and to the instructor as to how well the class as a whole is doing.
Assessment is also be central to the learning process itself. One of the most important aspects of a successful learning experience is the opportunity for learners to play back to teachers their understanding of the information or processes they are learning. Through this opportunity, they can articulate their growing knowledge and receive correction, if needed, from the teacher. At the same time, teachers can learn how effective they have been in facilitating learning for their students, and use this information to revise their instructional practices.
 previous page |
