Analyse The Effectiveness Of Assessment Methods In Relation To Meeting Individual Needs Of Learners

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ANALYSE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ASSESSMENT METHODS IN RELATION TO MEETING THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF LEARNERS. UNIT 2, 6.2
Race, P. (2009) says “we need a richer mix of high-quality assessment formats, and we also need to decrease the overall burden of assessment for ourselves and for our students. We need to measure less, but measure it better.'
Using a variety of assessment methods gives students more scope to demonstrate their knowledge and skills across a range of contexts. By adopting a wider catalogue of assessments I can also help support students who may for one reason or another be underprivileged by the extensive use of particular assessment formats. A variation of assessment methods, where appropriate and practical, can therefore successfully …show more content…

The Equality Act 2010 demands that 'reasonable adjustments' be made, both to the way that students' education is provided and 'in the arrangements it makes for deciding upon whom to confer a qualification'. The legislation requires students' needs to be anticipated – so any necessary adjustments should be in place before they are actually required. There are implications for assessment, but the actions you might take to do this could well benefit all students. Mortimore P (ed) (1999).
One way to ensure that I am not inadvertently discriminating against students on the basis of their disability is to make my assessments as valid as possible. A valid assessment will measure only those skills and knowledge that I have set out to measure, i.e. those that are detailed in the learning outcomes and assessment criteria. As such, a student shouldn't be penalised for poor spelling and grammar if the criteria state that the assessment will measure understanding of the subject. Moore A …show more content…

In particular, authentic methods of assessment, those which closely look like the ways in which skills and knowledge are used in the real world, can help to motivate students above and beyond more traditional methods of assessment, such as essays. Needless to say that essays are in any way a 'poor' or inappropriate form of assessment. However, there may be opportunities in which I could still support the learning outcomes as an essay whilst better engaging my students with the assessment task. In some cases the use of certain assessment methods are overpoweringly resource-intensive. Classroom assessment and grading practices have the potential not only to measure and report learning but also to promote it. Indeed, recent research has documented the benefits of regular use of diagnostic and formative assessments as feedback for learning (Black, Harrison, Lee, Marshall, & Wiliam,