Traditional and Non-Traditional Assessments

As a student some of the assessments I prefer to take include activities requiring verbal skills such as oral recitations, reports, extemporaneous speech, and group discussions. In my experience, I could often articulate myself better using verbal activities compared to traditional assessments such as writing and exams. I believe that I could elaborate more on the lesson, and sometimes, paper-and-pen type of evaluations do not capture deeper learning of the topic.

As a future teacher, I would choose to prepare upcoming assessments based on the learning objectives, results of pre-tests, observed or gathered evidences on areas for improvement from the lesson, and possibility of collaboration. The knowledge that learning is best paired with reflective assessments provides relief that the teacher should not carry the burden for students’ learning. Students should learn to own their learning process and take responsibility for their progress. They would also feel motivated with classmates’ unique ideas or compare answers for better generalizations.

It rewards to know that learning is a two-way lane and we could best reach our destination by holding the hands of the students and guiding them effectively in the proper direction.