Thought on Youtube Video Watched (What was Significant to Me in the Assessment Used)

Comprehensive Assessment - An Overview

READ

REMEMBER

REGURGITATE

     While watching the video, I came across the three terms above and of course, we are too familiar with these terms. This was what we as 90's kids did during our primary and secondary educations. We sat for innumerable quizzes, exams and tests. We read, remembered and regurgitated the facts and throw them out during tests. Sometimes, we didn't even have the time to digest the new information. After tests, we forgot everything. So seriously, there is nothing much that we can learn from memorising factual information. We couldn't apply them in real world situation! What teachers expect from students is not memorising skills but other skills or abilities such as communication and leadership skills and also ability to collaborate with each other. 

     As what I have seen from the video, the implementation of the alternative assessment (performance-based assessment) in education involves students to develop performances, where they will create products and the teacher will access and evaluate their performances based on certain scoring guide. In my point of view, this is indeed a good approach for teachers to test students' abilities and knowledge. Through projects, teacher can access students' understanding on particular subjects and their capability in applying certain concepts. Moreover, performance assessment emphasises in depth learning and less focuses on drills. This is what we need in 21st century education. Traditionally, teachers could not test leadership skills, problem solving skills and etc in students through black and white paper. However, these vital these skills could be assessed through performance-based practice in classroom, where students will do their project independently, with teacher as facilitator and perform whatever they know. 

          

     One of the part of video that caught my attention is when Professor Linda Darling-Hammond from Stanford University School of Education mentions "the time is teaching and learning". Actually, by conducting performance-based assessment, it will consume a lot of time and energy. Nevertheless, while conducting the assessment in real life, students are actually learning and teachers can give immediate feedback on what to do to meet students' needs.