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Student Assessments- Pre-School ESL Classroom (Diagnostic Assessments (A…
Student Assessments- Pre-School ESL Classroom
Diagnostic Assessments
A form of pre-assessment, it assess students' knowledge on a topic before instruction. It is used to guide teachers' planning and designing of a unit.
The advantages of this type of assessment involve teachers being aware of students strengths or weaknesses on a topic before teaching it. Teachers can focus the instruction to meet the needs of the students. Additionally students can compare what they knew before the unit began and what they have learned by the end of the unit to see their progress. One disadvantage of this assessment is that students may feel unmotivated or intimidated if they don't know anything about the topic.
This is an assessment FOR learning. It assesses what students know about a topic before planning the unit in order to guide instruction and planning.
At my grade level we do a baseline assessment at the beginning of the year to see what students already know before we start teaching. It is done mostly through observation and some one-on-one questioning.
Formative Assessments
Used to monitor student learning. It is an ongoing process that provides constant feedback to guide teaching and student learning
The biggest advantage is that the teacher is aware of student progress and adapt the teaching and learning to support achievement. The biggest disadvantage is that it must be consistent and continual for all students and must be recorded to be applied and used to inform instruction. While the formative assessments are often quick and low-prep, collecting and analyzing the data consistently takes time.
An example of a formative assessment in my classroom is having students design a picture using a blank sheet and various tools. I compare their progress for a period of time, beginning with simple lines (often light and barely visible) to taking shape into identifiable forms or forms that the student can name and explain.
This is an assessment FOR learning. These assessments happen throughout the unit and inform instruction for teachers and learning for students.
Summative Assessments
Used to evaluate student learning and achievement at the end of a unit. It is compared against benchmarks to see how students are performing compared to the accepted expectation.
The advantages of these assessments are that they show how students compare to others of the same age or grade level. They can be done in multiple ways such as project based or written tests. The disadvantages of summative assessments are that they can demotivate students that perform poorly,
Summative Assessments are assessments OF learning. They assess students' understanding or knowledge of a subject or topic. They are more of a product of learning.
Most summative assessments in my classroom are done one-on-one or in small groups and are based on observation and less on an actual product that students produce.
Performance-Based Assessments
Students perform a project or task that demonstrates their understanding of the topic. The purpose is for students to apply learned knowledge or skills.
The advantages of this type of assessment is that it is typically hands-on which engages students. It can be student chosen, meaning students will be more invested in their learning. The disadvantages are similar to the authentic assessment, student-led assessments can become disorganized if they are not properly designed and monitored by the teacher.
Performance-based assessments are typically OF learning. It offers students the opportunity to show their knowledge and understanding of a topic through a hands-on project. However, parts of the assessment can be FOR learning, such as peer reviews and self-reflection.
In preschool an example of a performance-based assessment is when learning about construction and buildings, students must build the tallest free standing tower they can using blocks.
High-Stakes Assessments
The advantages of these assessments include that they are standardized, so they can be used to collect data over a large group of people. The disadvantages are that they put a lot of pressure and stress on both the teachers and the students taking the tests. Also, they only measure knowledge in one way, so students that struggle to show their knowledge or understanding in that specific way are limited.
These tests are an assessment OF learning, but teachers should use the results if they can FOR learning. Some standardized tests give the results for a class and if teachers understand how to read the data they can use the data to inform instruction.
High-stakes assessments are standardized assessments such as SATs and the Bar Exam. They are used to inform decisions.
We do not have any high-stakes assessments for preschool students as I am aware, however some studies suggest that students who attended preschool are more likely to score better on high-stakes assessments.
Portfolio Assessments
Portfolio Assessments can either be a process portfolio or a product portfolio. Process portfolios show samples of student work over a period of time and are used to measure the growth of the student. Product portfolios are a creation by a student to show their understanding of a topic. Both the teacher and the student are involved in this assessment and the student works to set goals for his/her learning that are shown in the portfolio as they usually include self-reflections.
The advantages of this assessment are that students can take ownership of it and feel invested in it. While students set their goals they can work to accomplish them and clearly see their progress or need for further work. This helps create a growth mindset for learners.
Process portfolio assessment is mainly FOR learning as students can see their progress and set goals for themselves. Product portfolio assessments are mainly OF learning as it is a creation by the students to show their understanding of a topic.
An example of a portfolio assessment is by keeping a collection of students coloring and tracing throughout the semester and year. I can clearly see students progress in the ability to control writing tools.
Authentic Assessment
Students are asked to perform real-world tasks to apply their knowledge or understanding of a topic. The purpose is that education should be preparing students to be productive citizens.
The advantages of these assessments is that they are real-life tasks, so it gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to a situation that is meaningful. Students are likely to be more invested. One disadvantage is that these assessments are largely student-led. This can cause some issues with organization and ensuring that the tasks truly represent the students knowledge or skills on a topic. They must be properly developed by the teacher.
Authentic Assessments are typically OF learning. They are usually real-life tasks that students must complete using their learned knowledge and skills.
In my preschool class, students could show their learned knowledge about living things by completing a project such as taking care of a plant for two weeks. Students would demonstrate their knowledge about the needs of living things.
Peer Assessment
A form of peer review in which students provide feedback on their classmates' work. It is beneficial for both the reviewer and the student receiving the review. Students get the opportunity to act as the assessor and gain a better understanding of assessment
Some advantages of peer assessment include students gaining a better understanding of the assessment process. Also, students are more invested as they are involved in all levels of the process. The disadvantages are that this process must be very clearly laid out by the instructor and closely monitored. Rubrics and grading criteria must be introduced properly and used effectively.
Peer Assessment can be used as an assessment OF learning or FOR learning, depending on how the teacher chooses to use it. Peer assessments can be used to guide students' work for example if students are doing peer editing in the writing process. It can also be used as a summative assessment for example during an end of unit project when students assess each other's contributions.
In preschool, peer assessments are informal and less common. They are typically done more verbally- a student gives his/her ideas and the teacher asks other students if they agree or disagree or have the same or a different answer.
Self-Assessment
Students reflect on their own work and judge it against a set criteria or rubric. The purpose is for students to understand and judge what constitutes good or poor work.
Some advantages of self-assessment include students gaining a better understanding of the assessment process and what good or poor work looks like. Also, students are more invested as they are involved in all levels of the process. The disadvantages are that this process must be very clearly laid out by the instructor and closely monitored. Rubrics and grading criteria must be introduced properly and used effectively. Also, the teacher must ensure that students are being honest and not biased in giving themselves a good score solely to get a good grade.
Self Assessment can be used as an assessment OF learning or FOR learning, depending on how the teacher chooses to use it. Self assessments can be used to guide students' work for example if students are keeping a diary or journal reflecting on their learning process. It can also be used as a summative assessment for example during an end of unit project when students assess their own work.
Self Assessment on the preschool level is more informal. Students can reflect on their work or actions through discussion with the teacher.