Assessment Matters

Assessment Matters

What is the role of assessment and evaluation in school improvement and measuring educational quality?

We see much news in the internet and papers that today's school systems are failing; however, it is correct to some extends. Public policies and state accountability systems are putting severe sections on those schools and college which they find unfit to their requirements. However, the problem is in their judgments. Dr. Brian Stecher in his presentation video (2011) has criticized those systems that their methods of judgments are incorrect. He said that judgments are made on the basis of mathematics and reading scores and by measuring the number of graduates a school is producing each year. He further said that if the schools fail to meet the requirement these systems forces the schools to change their curriculum, or fire the teaching staff or even close the schools by turning them into other organizations. This must, however, should be discouraged. They should be correctly judged so that the thriving schools can develop their performances. He further said that if we don`t count anything, eventually it won't count. It is necessary that one should evaluate the performance of the school so that we could keep a track on them. However, the evaluation method should be accurate. School is that organization where students learn how to survive in their future.

What are your perspectives on the roles and trends related to assessment in education?

Education evaluation is necessary so that state accountability systems and public policies can keep a track on the thriving schools. Assessment plays an important role which results education system. Proper evaluation techniques can ensure the best education system in the country. Schools of today are failing to produce good education systems. Some of them are focusing more towards the academics and least concern about the recreational activities. While others are least concerned about their students` behavior and interests, within their classrooms. But if proper assessment is provided, it would put a pressure on those schools. With proper assessment, we do not only mean evaluation, but we are also concerned about its positive effects. We have to give those techniques that will help the schools in producing quality education. Assessment should not only limit to mathematics and reading scores, or number of graduates a school is producing. Brain Stecher (2011) suggested six things that schools should be judged on.

Academics including mathematics, reading, science, history, foreign cultures and social studies.

Students should be able to do creative things, such as performance in arts, music, and must be able to interact with technology.

Students should be focusing on their diets, exercise and sport activities.

Students should play together in the same box, i.e., they should know how to build social skills, such as, working in groups and teams.

They should develop self-confidence. They should be able to face challenges that they will be facing in the future.

They must be a good citizen. Schools should be assessed on these criteria. Tests could be helpful in assessing ...