Module 4 Activity 4 - How we assess- Assessment methods

Assessmennt is a necessary ingredient in the teaching learning environment and ought to provide the feedback required by students so that they and the teacher could monitor the progress going forward.  It also indicates to teachers whether desired learning outcomes were achieved.

As teachers structure the assessment process, it is done using elements of self-assessment, peer assessment and group assessment.  It would be quite beneficial if teachers could be exposed to these alternative ways of assessing students as this would tap the diversity in the classroom and add to the richness of the learning environment.

Module 4 Activity 3 "Diversity" - what we assess

As we assess, one must remember that it is necessary to cater to the needs of all students and their diversity.  Further, our teaching should always be geared to the students and what they can do bearing in mind that we assist them to acquire the skills needed to move to the next level.

Module 1 - Activity 8 Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

Piaget's 4 stages of cognitive development have brought a fresh perspective to what we teachers do in the classroom.  This course has brought into focus the things which we need to change in our practice in respect of the diversity found among students within the classroom and also highlights that the pace and rate of learning differ.  It encourages us as teachers to move away from the teacher-centered classrooms to that which encourages us to create more student-centered environments, utilizing more collaborative strategies, experiences, discovery and hands-on approaches to teaching and learning with the individual student's development as our guide.

However, although Piaget's theory has merit one cannot not reflect on the present education system which focuses mainly on the completion of a curriculum and having students pass exams. 

Module 4 - Activity 2 - What we assess

Assessment is very important to the teaching learning process as it allows for growth of learning and teaching through reflection, planning, feedback and self-assessment.  It is necessary that assessment procedures and practices are structured to the types of learners in the classroom and not the one size fits all that we teachers tend to utilize.  Teachers are to have set criteria and standards by which to fairly assess students, remembering the ultimate goal is to ensure that each student achieve some measure of success.

Module 1 Activity 7 - "Cooperative_Learning"

Cooperative learning can be a very effective strategy once used correctly.  This student-centered strategy has seen success in the positive independence of students, individual accountability, improvement of social skills and an equal opportunity for success.  Educators are to ensure that proper planning is done in this strategy as an effective outcome which is self-assessment is also realized.
Further, it is observed and a recognized fact that students understand the work much better when it is explained by their peers.  It becomes necessary to ensure that the strategy is utilized where practicable.

Module 1 - Activity 5 - "Developmental_psychology" caring for others.

Teachers come face to face daily with diversity in their classrooms and have to deal with this in a realistic way in order to get to the point where every learner succeeds.  One realizes that students are affected by many issues and situations which place them at risk or resilient to the effects.  To meet the deficiencies and to assist others with their coping skills our practice ought to change.  The change must be seen in our classroom management strategies, delivery of instruction, assessment practices, parental interaction and social interaction with the very clients in our classrooms.