Growing Success and the Impact it has

A Change in thought

The growing success document along with the assessment classes have changed my opinion on what assessment really is. At first assessment to me was something that was only done at certain times of the year. Assessment was a mark given to a student and was only the teacher evaluating the final project that the student submitted. Growing Success outlines a very different and better version of assessment then what I believed to be true. The book not only teaches what assessment is but also different ways of evaluation and ways of reporting student achievement. These categories as well as Assessment for, as, and of learning helped me learn about the bigger picture of what assessment is.

Assessment – more than just a mark

In the first weeks of the assessment class and through reading only one chapter of Growing Success it was very apparent that Assessment was not only done to get a final mark for the student. Assessment for learning is a responsibility of the teacher. In this part of the assessment process the teacher is to try and understand what the students need to learn. This part of assessment allows the teacher to evaluate how they are presenting the information in order to help their students better understand the information. Assessment as learning is a responsibility of the students. The students should be able to self-assess and realize what they should do as learners to meet the learning criteria of the assignment or unit. Students and teachers both play a role in assessment. Lastly assessment of learning is the final step in assessment. This is the step where a mark is produced. Growing Success changed my view of assessment from one that happens a few times throughout the year from final tests or projects to continuous assessment. This continuous assessment is ongoing and takes place throughout the school year by the teacher and students.

Evaluation and Reporting

Evaluation is an important part of assessment. Evaluation should be used to improve student learning. This is an example of assessment of learning that provides evidence of student achievement throughout the curse of the year. Reporting and evaluation and the teacher’s role within these are very crucial. The teacher must ensure that there is a fair marking system in place and that students are being marked based on the curriculum guidelines and not in comparison to other student’s work. A teacher is responsible for making sure that the student has a chance to learn. The student should have opportunities to complete work and if they are not than conversation with the student as well as their parents should be had. A teacher must also ensure that they have evidence of why the student received the mark that they did. This evidence can be in the forms of rubrics, anecdotal evidence, or other marking schemes that the teacher may have. A teacher plays a large role in evaluation and reporting and has more responsibility then just providing a grade.

Overall, Growing Success has impacted my beliefs for the better. This book allowed me to be informed on all the responsibilities that a teacher has. The book will prove to be a valuable resource during a teaching career. The book describes the multiple aspects that there are to assessment which is very informative.