There are two types of assessment based on its goals or use. One is what I call assessment in the service of teaching. The second is what I call assessment in the service of learning. Assessment in the service of teaching refers to the use of assessment information to improve teaching while assessment in the service of learning refers to the use of assessment information in the form of feedback to keep the learners to the task of learning. This post is about assessment in the service of learning.
How do we keep learners in the task of learning? It is said that it is through assessment that we communicate to students what we value. And what do we value? The learners. Having said that perhaps the better description is assessment in the service of the learners or students.
H. Ninomiya lists examples of evaluative feedback we can give to our students. These are listed below. You can read more about his work in Japanese Lesson Study In Mathematics: Its Impact, Diversity and Potential for Educational Improvement. The book is edited by Masami Isoda.
| 1.Verbal Assessments which value students’ endeavor | You have improved a lot, as you always try to think deeply?You have concentrated a lot. Wonderful! Great! You could solve such many problems beautifully. |
| 2. Verbal Assessments which make students try harder | It’s a pity, but it is OK. You can do it. Try better next time?You can do it well if you apply yesterday’s outcomes.You had better try another angle. Be confident! |
| 3. Verbal Assessments which stimulate students’ interest and motivation | You have been working with a lot of confidence. Now it seems you like to learn about fractions. Yours is such a good question. It interests everyone. |
| 4. Verbal Assessments which value students’ ability | Since you have understood his idea so well, please explain it to everyone.?Wow, you are the champion of multiplication! Your explanation is very clear and really helpful to understand. |
| 5. Verbal Assessments which gives energy and hope for learning | You seemed to think you could not understand today’s problem. Ok, I will work with you tomorrow until you can be satisfied with your understanding.
You had made a lot of careless mistakes because you were in a rush, but now you have very few. You are thinking deeply and more carefully. |
| 6. Verbal Assessments which value students’ contributions | Because of your question, we got some good hints for solving this problem.
Because you carefully explained your idea, many people could understand quite a lot. |
