Assessing Student Learning

Most people believe that taking a test is the best way of assessing student learning. While it is one way of gauging a student’s competency in a subject, what happens when those individual students who are just bad test takers fail? Does that mean they are not learning? No, it does not. However, it does bring up a good point for the argument that testing alone is not a true gauge of learning effectiveness.

There are three basic ways of assessing student learning – assessment of performance, a traditional pencil and paper test and the use of student portfolios. For assessment of performance, a particular open ended problem is given to a student which would allow them to use their own brain power in order to solve it. This method encourages higher thinking skills as well as using the existing knowledge they are supposed to have learned in class.

A regular pencil and paper test for assessing student learning is viewed by some as rather flawed. How well can you truly assess a student’s capabilities by testing on the regurgitation of information? Educators and parents alike feel that a constructive answer where the child must write it out along with backup is best, but the drawback is the time constraints.

Assessing student learning through a portfolio is another way to gauge a student’s progress. This portfolio contains a compilation of work which charts the efforts of the student as well as their progress and any achievements. A portfolio evaluation is more time consuming but it does give a clearer picture into the abilities of the student. In addition, a portfolio can help in assessing student learning styles so that teachers and parents alike can better communicate in the most effective way possible for maximum learning potential.

No one way is more effective than the other when it comes to gauging the performance of a student. This is the reason why school districts often follow the most cost effective ways of assessment, which may or may not be the most accurate way for each individual student.