This week in class we have discussed the different kinds of assessment completed in the classroom. These types include pretesting, norm-referenced testing, formative testings, and summative testing. Each type of testing has a different purpose and each is helpful in certain areas. Pretests help teachers know what knowledge the students already have about a certain subject. Norm-referenced testing is helpful when comparing students. Summative testing may take place at the end of a unit, and formative testing occurs throughout the learning process. I can see why teachers have their students take a variety of tests.
During my classroom hours I observed some of the ways in which the teacher did testing. Because I have only been to the class a few times, I have not observed a lot of testing. However, last time I went I noticed the teacher doing reading assessments on the kids. She assessed each of the children individually on their reading speed and accuracy. From what I observed I inferred that she was doing formative testing. I noticed that after reading with the kids, she informed them of progress they had made from the time of their last assessment. It seemed as though these assessments occurred frequently. Rather than taking one test at the end of a unit, the teacher did continuous testing throughout the year in order to track the students' progress.
I think formative testing is a very important tool to use in the classroom. Formative testing assists teachers in being better scaffolders for their students. The zone of proximal development for each student will change throughout the year, and this means that the teacher will have to modify her teaching according to the needs of the student. As a teacher I plan to conduct some formative assessments so that I can better meet the needs of my students.
No comments:
Post a Comment