Theory assessment 2 essay

Assessment is a method which measures the extent and degree of learning which has taken place within or outside of the classroom. Skills, knowledge and attitudes can be measured against a pre determined standard set by the tutor or examining body of a subject module or qualification.

It can grade the attainment of learners, help to select candidates for jobs or courses, contribute to evidence the effectiveness of a course content and tutors abilities and provide a long term goal for learners. Assessment also allows opportunity to adjust teaching to ensure all targets or criteria is being met.

However, it has been argued that assessment is unreliable and inaccurate and is a poor tool of predicting a student’s future performance. There are various types of assessment methods; these include initial diagnostic, formative, summative, norm and criterion referencing.

Initially, we worked as a group to research the principles of assessment which we were then to present back to other students as a micro teaching session. Petty (2004, pg 219) suggests that group work is active and gives students ‘…chance to use the methods, principles and vocabulary that they are being taught.’