The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted educational assessment, with many schools and institutions having to shift to remote learning and online assessment. However, the pandemic has also provided an opportunity for educators and policymakers to rethink how they approach educational assessment and identify ways to improve it. Here are some potential ways that educational assessment can improve after COVID-19:
- Greater emphasis on formative assessment: Formative assessment involves gathering feedback on a student's progress throughout the learning process. This approach allows for timely feedback that can inform instruction and help students improve their performance. With remote and hybrid learning models, formative assessment has become even more critical to ensure that students are staying on track. Teachers's use of voice messages and live or interactive written feedback / suggestions is probably better quality (and more helpful to learning) than more traditional written comments.
- Increased use of technology: COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of technology in education. This trend is likely to continue, with many institutions using online assessment tools and digital platforms to administer tests and track student progress. The increased use of technology can provide more accurate and real-time data on student performance during lessons, allowing teachers to identify areas of weakness and tailor instruction accordingly.
- More flexible assessment models: The pandemic has highlighted the need for more flexible assessment models that can accommodate students in different learning environments. For example, teachers could consider more regular use of alternative assessment approaches, such as project-based assessments. Game based quiz apps are also often a far more exciting and interesting alternative to written tests.
- More personalized assessment: With more data available on student performance, assessment can be more personalized to meet the needs of specific groups or individual students. This approach can help ensure that students receive the instruction and support they need to succeed.
- More comprehensive assessment: The pandemic has shown the importance of assessing not only academic performance but also the social and emotional well-being of students. Comprehensive assessment approaches can help identify areas of need beyond academic performance and tailor interventions accordingly.
Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced leaders, teachers and policymakers to rethink educational assessment and identify ways to improve it. By embracing new assessment approaches and technologies, and focusing on more personalized and comprehensive assessment, we have the opportunity to better support student learning and success.
One major obstacle in some educational systems is the rigid over-reliance on final written examinations as "the be all and end all" outcome or grade, in some cases of 2 years' study.
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Former Academic Coordinator
2 年Fully agree with you Jeff to a new system of assessments! Formative is alway more useful than other types but as you highlighted the main obstacle is the Final written exam which sums it all! Will students be prepared for those with a change??? Unless the whole system changes other changes will be difficult to implement 100%!
Director of Teaching and Learning
2 年Jeff Evans, NPQH, PG Dip. Ed. I agree 100%! Rigid, old-fashioned definitions of assessments and along with ancient practices must change. Thanks for the post.
School Principal, Dubai
2 年Thanks for posting this Jeff! Funny thing...as I read this half my brain was engaged in thoughts of how in my job I can help design a better "school assessment" tool...and the 5 topics in the article you posted ALL are relevant to this! -Making school review more formative than summative is probably the best takeaway for me. If it is good enough for kids, it is good enough for how we help schools measure their progress...not how traditionally the process is very summative and 'top down' and judgemental. (ok side note....I find it hilarious that the word 'summative' comes up with a red squiggle under it as being incorrect in word and here in linkedin. Isn't that ironic as heck lol! That one of THE key new 'werds' we've invented in edumakashun is always wrong! LOLOL)