What Does Research Say About Assessment?.
Assessment is any method used to better understand the current knowledge that a student possesses. This implies that assessment can be as simple as a teacher's subjective judgment based on a single observation of student performance, or as complex as a five hour standardized test. Assessment may effect decisions about grades, advancement, placement, instructional needs and curriculum. Many groups of people assess within the educational community, such as policymakers, administrators and school, teacher and administrators and parents and students.
Policymakers use assessment to set standards, focus on goals, monitor the quality of education, reward/sanction various practices, formulate policies, direct resources including personnel and money, and determine effects of tests. Monitor program effectiveness planners use assessment to identify program strengths and weaknesses, designate program priorities, assess alternatives, and plan and improve programs. Teachers and administrators make group decisions use assessment to perform individual diagnosis and prescription, monitor student progress, carry out curriculum evaluation and refinement, provide mastery/promotion/ grading and other feedback, motivate students, and determine grades. Parents and students use gauge student strengths and weaknesses determine school accountability and to make informed educational and career decisions.
Characteristics of Good Assessment .
Good assessment information provides accurate estimates of student's performance and enables teachers or other decision makers to make appropriate decisions. The concept of test validity captures these essential characteristics and the extent that an assessment actually measures what it is intended to measure. Measurement experts agree that test validity is tied to the purpose for which as assessment is used. A test might be valid for one purpose, but inappropriate for other purposes.