Getting the assessment piece right is more than just evaluating the student, it is also letting the student know that they KNOW what they have studied.
Why......
- It builds self confidence
- It makes them know they are smart
- It helps them build on what they know
When educators assess students in only one way, students who do know the answer don't get to prove it.
Here is my personal example. (feel free to overlay with a bitter tone)
- I cannot spell well. I am also not that good at math.
- In grade school we sat in straight rows, in alphabetical order. I am a "W".
- Every week we had spelling words, spelling tests, and if it was a bad we for me, spelling bees.
- In Junior High, entrance into advanced sciences was based on math ability.
- I never thought I was smart.
- Had those times gone beyond the multiple choice, fill in the blank and short essay questions, I might have realized I was smart.
Helping a student realize they are smart is no minor task in the educational experience. It is incumbent upon the educator to help the student understand that assessments may not prove knowledge, and help the student figure out how they can show they know.
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