SCHOLASTIC ASSESSMENT


What is Scholastic Assessment?

Assessment is no longer viewed as a narrow measurement process; the aim is no longer to simply collect summative results of learner's ability to recall knowledge or for comparing one student to another across different intellectual and achievement domains. Rather it is about asking questions and gathering data to identify learners' needs and about matching and managing curricula and instruction to assure student success. Assessment is a ongoing, collaborative process of gathering a wide variety of information by using assessment measures (tests) and information from many other sources.

Which Assessment tests are used?

Assessment processes have undergone radical changes. In the past, psychometric tests were used, however these tended to be culturally biased and thus very restrictive. In recent trends more ‘dynamic assessment' is taking place. It focuses more on what the child is capable of learning and their potential to succeed. It involves both ‘prompting and teaching' so as to develop the learner to the best of his/her own ability. It looks not only at the learner's academic ability but also at the social influences affecting the learner. This eco-systemic approach thus requires that other members of society, parents, teachers and peers also participate in the assessment process which will benefit all.

Generally the following scholastic assessments can be conducted:

•  Reading age

•  Spelling age

•  Maths ability

•  Curriculum Based Assessment for all of the above is preferred and used most regularly


What is Curriculum Based Assessment (CBA)?

According to Louise Goodyear curriculum-based assessment is an ‘informal method of assessment based on the curriculum for certain grades and is considered to be highly reliable.' It reinforces the relationship between assessment and teaching as it deals with the current work being learnt, taught and assessed in the classroom. CBA is flexible and dynamic in that it can be altered to suit the needs of the teacher, therapist or learner.

CBA encourages teachers and counselors to ask 5 questions when assessing their learners.

1. What does the learner know?

2. What can the learner do?

3. How does the learner think?

4. How does the learner approach what he/she is unsure of?

5. As a teacher/counsellor, what do I do now?


contact us for more information