Week #4 - Assessments (Portfolios)

Blog Reflection #4 - Week 4

ASSESSMENTS
I am always interested in assessment. I believe it is imperative that the assessment align with the content of the instruction and with the activities that go with the instruction. I have seen assessments in my teaching career that I felt did not align with instruction. Sometimes I find myself designing the assessment and then going back to build the lesson. Then after I build the lesson, I go back and revisit the assessment to revise if needed. It’s just a toggle back and forth of revisits until it all comes together.

ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING (AFL)
All 10 of the assessment for learning tenets were valuable – it was hard to choose. I finally settled on #6 and #8.
Number 6 states: AFL should take account of the importance of (and foster) learner motivation. I am of the opinion that assessment should include some activity that stimulates the learner to apply what he/she has learned. The assessment should trigger the student to discover what his convictions are, or to express new learning with care, choosing the words carefully to say what he means and mean what he says. These actions should become the way the student approaches all assessments, improving higher thinking skills and written expression along the way.

Number 8 states: AFL develops learners’ capacity for self-assessment so that they can become reflective and self-managing. This tenet reminds me of rubrics. Until a few years ago I did not even know what a rubric was, but when I discovered them and realized that I could create my own – it was a whole new world. I think the rubric directs the student to evaluate his own product before he turns it in. The rubric enables the student to reflect on the assigned work, and revise, add to, or correct where needed. The student self-manages the assignment without even realizing it. Then he is able to reflect on his work and bring it to one of the levels stated on the rubric. He knows what the expectations are for each level so he has an idea of which ones he met and what his assessment results will be – no surprises. As a student myself, I find the rubric to be a very significant evaluation instrument for the student and an equally significant grading instrument for the teacher.

POTENTIAL FOR PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT
I see well-founded potential for the use of the portfolio as an assessment tool. All the information I have read in our class notes about portfolios prove that they cover all 10 of the Assessment for Learning principles. I think it would be difficult to find an assessment that covers ALL of these principles. Besides, portfolios have been used for years. I have used them in my classroom and I have created my own in college courses. The beauty is that now portfolios can be done electronically and can have a more professional appearance. The electronic portfolios are FREE to design compared with the former print ones, where one had to go purchase a binder, dividers, see-through sleeves, and any enhancements desired. Also the electronic portfolios have the capability to be published online for anyone and everyone to see. Going public certainly motivates the student to do an exceptional job on building the portfolio! I believe portfolio assessment is a tried and true assessment, and the electronic process adds a more favorable appeal for teacher and student.

EFFECTS ON MY LEARNING
There is no doubt in my mind that the creation and development of my own portfolio will sharpen my technology skills. When I created my portfolio site for this week’s project, I discovered so many new items. I use Google for my email and love it, but I had never visited the Google site. I am very eager to learn how to use the tools I found there. I am confident that as I build my portfolio, I am going to find information “out there” that I did not even know was possible. Creating the portfolio stirs my interest to design an electronic photo album. I have seen several from my friends but now it’s my turn! This portfolio project is opening up new doors for me in the online world. I am being challenged on EVERY side, with every little icon and prompt, but I’m pressing on and I feel so good about myself when I accomplish something that I’ve never done before. Just uploading my concept map successfully made ME feel successful. I have a loooonnnggg way to go, but I have gained more confidence from my tech classes so I’m well on my way to mastering these new technologies. About the time I master one, a new one comes along. That’s technology and it is stimulating.