Assessment methods, their merits and demerits Essay Example for Free

Assessment methods, their merits and demerits EssayMainly, three types of discernments atomic number 18 in practice, initial, formative and summative assessment. Initial assessment can be a formal or informal process of identifying each learners strengths and help them to understand their areas of development, and the representting action plan accordingly. In formative assessment, teacher or tax assessor monitor bookmans learning performance during the learning time against a set criteria. assimilators struggling areas are identify by feedback records and action plan for teachers to adopt teaching strategies and disciple to motivate for more study is adjusted. In Summative assessment, teacher evaluates the learners performance at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against a standard and other students performance. Summative assessments are amply stakes or mellowed point values and includea)Written examsb)Quizzesc)Dissertations and projectsd)Instead of compa ring the advantages and disadvantages of these assessment types, I would prefer to discuss assessment instruments I used in these assessments and talk about their merits and demerits.Assessment typeStrengthLimitations1.Written exams1. Good tool to assess students knowledge without guessing.2. It forces student to think and articulate that thinking.3. Take less time to create test as compared to MCQ where assessor has to get in more choices and student will choose one.4. Teacher can provide better feedback on answers.1. These tests unavoidably language skills with and ESL students cant demonstrate their capabilities.2. These tests are time bounds and a slow write student may not able to show his full knowledge.3. Performance in these test found on memorizing facts instead of showing creativity.Assessment typeStrengthLimitations2.Oral Exams1. This format decreases miscommunication and misunderstandingwhile questioning or answering.2. Student doesnt need to follow any set lines for answer.3. Give more chances to examiner to ask how student came to this answer.4. More assessors can take part in this format.5. More areas can be covered in less time. 1. Could be biased and less fair result oriented. 2. Requires a trained examiner to set such format which cost more. 3. Shy students can be distracted by other factors and cthey may not give their fullest.Assessment typeStrengthLimitations3. Portfolios1. Assess and promote critical thinking.2. Give opportunity learner to be self-directed, active, peer -supported and independent.3. More than one assessor validates the performance.4.Promotes creativity and problem solving5. can be used to assess professional and personal development.1. Difficult to identify whether this is students own hunting expedition or somebody elses. 2. Involve large amount of paper have which gives less time to guidance on course. 3. Reliability issues.4. Student can easily hide their weaknesses in this type of assessment.Assessment typeStre ngthLimitations4. Projects and dissertations1. every(prenominal) round ability testing i.e practical, analytical and interpretative skills. 2. Teaches students time management and if in group wherefore teaches leadership and team work skills. 3. Increase motivation to complete task quickly and in time.1. devising of such format assessment is hectic and time consuming. 2. Validity and reliability of assessment is not high as compared to other formats. 3. If resources not available to learning, performance will be compromised.In my teaching career, I have gone through all above mentioned assessment tools and found written exams are wide used in many parts of world. People love written exams because they pile up work and when exam is near, they memorize it and ready for exam, no creative work during the term just collecting the notes. issue is slightly changing in the world and other assessment tools are in practice, mostly university are assessing courses byassignments, project an d dissertations and these formats require continuous study and work thats develop students other skills on with the completion of these tasks.