Constructive Approach in Assessment/ Changing Assessment Practice

 Changing Assessment Practice:

Till recently, much emphasis was given only for assessing informational knowledge acquired by students as a result of their learning. But the educationist realized the narrowness of this method and inability to improve student learning, which results in changing assessment practices.

The present practice of learning assessment had started changing as broad- based, assessing all aspects of student learning like knowledge acquired, development of skills, ability, values, improving student learning through continuous feedback etc.

The following are the major changes that have taken place in the assessment of student learning.

1. Use of constructivist approach in assessment
2. Use of continuous and comprehensive evaluation
3. Using different types of assessment
4. Using grades instead of marks in student’s assessment

Use of constructive approach in assessment

Meaning of knowledge construction

Constructivism is 'an approach to learning that holds that people actively construct or make their own knowledge on existing and that reality is determined by the experiences of the learner'

A constructive classroom environment will facilitate students to critically examine any new information they receive.

Principles of constructivism

• Learning is an active process
• Learning is an active process.
• Learner tries to understand the new information by associating it with existing previous knowledge
• The learner takes responsibility for his or her learning.

Constructivism and assessment

Constructivist believes that assessment is a tool to be used for improving both students’ learning and teachers’ understanding of his students.
Those who adopt constructive approach considered assessment as a formative process rather than a summative act.
Its purpose is to improve the quality of student learning, not to provide evidence for evaluating or grading students.

Assessment is an ongoing process along with learning.

Tools and methods used in the constructivist assessment.

The tools and methods used in constructive assessment keeps the students engaged in their process of learning. Various tools /methods like discussion, debate, storytelling, and dramatization enhance the verbal interaction of the students. The level of the learning achievement is judged by observing their performance in these learning activities.

Besides observation, the teacher could also use tools such a student portfolio, investigatory projects, checklist written and performance test of achievement for assessing students learning proficiency.

Role of teacher in constructivist assessment

• Teacher will often puts open ended questions in the class and patiently waits for getting students responses.
• They give more importance for student’s higher order thinking and logical reasoning.
• Adequate opportunities for students to interact among themselves is provided
• Teacher will encourage students to discuss and mutually share their learning experience.
• Students are encouraged to learn by investigating and critical thinking
• More importance is given for student’s learning, based on problem solving.
• Instructional techniques such as group interacting sessions, cooperative learning, collaborative learning, group project work, solving jigsaw puzzles, etc. will be increasingly used by the teacher.

3 important instructional techniques employed by the teacher in the classroom environment helps students to construct their own knowledge. They are.

• Stimulating students inquiry related to every concept out in the class.
• Providing for multiple interpretations which help multiple intelligences get expressed.
• Encouraging students group work and use of peers as resources.