Challenge to Assess the Real Assess

I really learned a lot to the second module that in my Principles and Methods of Assessment course. First is to the assessment cycle down to the cyclical and linear learning. Assessment is not just a simple checking of papers, grading outputs, and evaluating reports, it is a process and there is a cycle to make.

It is also observed that most of the educators do not have a clear understanding of some of the terminologies and cycle of assessment. It is quite troublesome to have this kind of findings based on my observation because assessment is a crucial step in the educational process.

I develop beliefs that educators must have know-how about assessments. They must value assessment as also a room for improvement. It is given that educators file up the evidence such as direct and indirect evidence (eg. test results and interviews), however, not use it for assessing the whole process of teaching and understanding.

With this knowledge that I have in this module, I can now change some of the processes of assessments that I've used to have because it is culturally practiced in our school like an example of the finals examination. In this module, I only understood it's very essence. To be honest, I am one of those educators that do not have a mind over matter about final exams. It is just like compliance for us. However, with this set of understanding, I can now evaluate those final exams is part of the assessment in evaluating yourself with your strategies and evaluating your students with their knowledge. The process did not stop there. The assessment cycle still operates. And it just needs one's mind to value it for the development of the educational process.

Polices of oneself in teaching and developing certain beliefs must be taken in action as I will also vow to influence my colleagues the true essence of assessment.

Assessment: Vital in Education Process

Before enrolling this course, assessment for me is just a normal evaluation examination such as
paper-pencil and oral examinations, reporting, writing essays and what not. I know we all have this
kind of perception. In fact, in my class, as I’ve shared my knowledge in assessment, my students
also have the same notion as mine before about it. However, all of us is wrong in the first place.

Assessment is a learning process. We could not just check, grade, and record their outputs but we
need to see to it that we will give them meaningful remarks at the end of the day. Remarks that they
will ponder as they will grow and develop themselves on how to do it in your own standards.
Assessment is giving them the room of improvements and motivating them to do better in the next
outputs. As an instructor, it is always been a challenge for me on how to assess my students in the
classroom. I spend a lot of time thinking about what will be the best assessment tool or activity for
my students in a particular lesson or discussion. Aside from planning my lessons, understanding
the topic for my discussion, and preparing my instructional materials, I am also very much
concerned on how to improve their work and providing them assessments on how they will assess
themselves while I am also assessing them.

Education is truly a process. One of the vital and crucial processes is the assessment. Our duty as
an instructor doesn’t end in teaching our beloved students and recording their grade, but on how
we see them grow and on what can we actually do for them in order for them to understand the
discussion.

When I was still in grade school down to college, I have actually a principle in life that grades
don’t matter. Although garnering a lot of honorary awards, I still believe that grades won’t matter.
And with this realization right now about assessments, I can truly say that I am right on how I see
what education truly means. It is about how we develop ourselves, understand the things around
us, and improve our capabilities as much as we can in order to prepare for the real world after our
studies.

I learned a lot of insights into this module. And I can say that without assessment, the education
process is an automatic failure. So, therefore, it is one of the keys to attaining a good quality
education.