Types of Assessment Used in Lifelong Learning - Essay Example

Preparing To Teach In The Lifelong Learning Sector Unit one 1 Types of assessment used in Lifelong learning. There exists several assessments when we consider lifelong learning, in this paper I will take three examples of the assessments. a) Initial assessment. This is a very vital part in the learning journey, Initial assessment do avails information required to decide the learner’s beginning point. Initial assessment can be considered as the benchmark, where the learners’ achievements and progress can easily be measured, it ought to be done to the learners not to the learners (FRANCIS, & GOULD, 2013, 563). b) Formative assessment. Can as well be referred to as the diagnostic testing, and is a range of the informal and formal procedures that get employed by the teachers as the learning process takes place in an attempt to modify the teaching and learning events so as to elavate the students attainment(FRANCIS, & GOULD, 2013, 563). c) Summative assessment. Can also be referred to as summative evaluation, it do refer to assessment of learning that do summarizes developments of a learner specific period of time (FRANCIS, & GOULD, 2013, 563). 1.2 Use of methods of assessment in life-long learning. Under the methods of assessments used I am going to look into examples of each type of assessment and their respective use. a) Initial assessment. Some of the examples of the learners initial assessment are like application of a range of initial assessment methods, enabling the tutor to capture the learner’s beginning point In tutor observations In the self-assessment exercises In the discussion group. b) Formative assessment. There exist various examples of formative assessment one of which is. The language teacher asking the students to select the appropriate thesis statement in a selection, should the student select the appropriate one he or she goes on, and if she answers wrongly then he or she has to review his or her work on the thesis statements (WILSON, 2008, 89). c) Summative assessment. An example of a summative assessment is where after some period of work, like after around two weeks, learner do sit for the test and his or her teacher marks their test and the rewards various scores. This test is aimed at summarizing the learning to that point (WILSON, 2008, 89). 1.3 Comparison of the strengths and limitations of assessment methods in meeting individuals learning needs. Assessment method Strengths Limitations Initial assessment It helps learners feel positive and their potentiality to learn Sometimes it might lack some of the skills and knowledge that ought to be validated by the tutor Formative assessment Leaners take their own responsibility for his or her own learning. Sometimes it might fail to recognize the full range of the achievements of each and every learner Summative assessment Is very positive, and puts stress what learners are able to do other than what learners cannot do. It do tend to stress the local effects 2.1 ways of involving the learner in the assessment process A learner can be involved in the learning assessment process by several ways some of which are indicated below. Individual learning Plan, this is where a student specific program or learning strategy which indiscriminately considers the students weakness and strengths, though distance education has been founded on the premises that every student ought to get the same attention, that is the democratic principal, and then be exposed to a similar curriculum, and get reviewed on a similar pattern that is One Size do Fits All. ILP do assumes that each individual students needs are very different and therefore should be addressed very differently (WILSON, 2009, 87). Feedback. with the work that the students have handed in the tutor might require the learner to also include a paper of a self-assessment comment. Peer assessment feedback, is very easier than one assessing his or her own work, to start with, this is where the learner reads and comments of the work of others, therefore the students should be encouraged to get informal feedbacks from their fellow learners 2.2 Role of peer and self-assessment in the assessment process. Peer and self-assessment plays a vital role in the assessment process in fact a research conducted by the university of Rhodes indicated that, peer and self-assessment plays a major role in the assessment process (GRAVELLS, 2010, 67). Some of the roles of peer and self-assessment include. Peer and self-assessment promotes learner responsibility, that is as the learner assesses himself or herself he gets to understand the importance of staying responsible for some things or rather his or her weakness, and how to solve the weaknesses (GRAVELLS, 2010, 67). Peer and self-assessment do creates an open environment, that is as the learner mingle and interact with other peers, he or she gets to share out his or her weakness, and also gets to understand their strengths, it is through the peer assessment that the learner gets top share some vital information he or she could have kept under cover (GRAVELLS, 2011, 143). 3.1 Need for keeping records of assessment of learning. No any reasonable person could possible stay without keeping records of the past for the learner to succed in the future, in fact, without clear records of the past, learner is more of failure than a success, so why is it necessary to keep records of assessment of learning, well, there are many reasons why, some of the reason s are like (GRAVELLS, 2010, 67). Monitor or review process, by keeping records of assessment the learner is able to evaluate his or her progress, whether tearner is losing or gaining in anyway. Set targets, targets do give the learner a road map of where the learner is headed, in fact a research conducted by the university of Nairobi has shown that when learners have clear records about their performance, their productivity and performance do increase considerably (WILSON, 2009, 87). Records acts as a trust worthy evidence, evidence provides a clear way of the future. 3.2 Summary of the requirements for keeping records of assessment in an organization. UNIT two 1.1 Summary of learning and teaching strategy used in own specialism. Some of learning and teaching strategy used in own specialism, include Lecturing, Discussions, Group work Presentations Role paly 1.2 How approaches to learning and teaching in own specialization meet the needs of learners So the question is how do various approaches to teaching and learning meets the needs of the learners, some of the approaches include. 1. VAK, 2. Maslows 3. Own research 1.3 Aspects of inclusive learning. There are various aspects of inclusive learning some of which are below. a) Individual questioning, , is very easier than one assessing his or her own work, to start with, this is where the learner reads and comments of the work of others, therefore the students should be encouraged to get informal feedbacks from their fellow learners b) Varied resources c) ILPs, this is where a student specific program or learning strategy which indiscriminately considers the students weakness and strengths, 2.1 Selecting inclusive learning and teaching techniques. Inclusive learning technique can use the whiteboard, power point Plan for a VAK, Diagnostoic testing, 2.2 Selecting resources that meet the learner’s needs. Resources that would help meet the learners needs during the learning process are like the whiteboard, power point presentations and the DVDs. 2.3 Creating assessment opportunities that meet the needs of learners. There are many ways through which the tutor can create an assessment opportunity that meets the learners needs, some of the widely used ways include the following. 1) Regular checking of learning, the tutor should always check the learning process and review it always for efficiency. 2) On-going formative, just as the formative assessment, Leaners take their responsibility for their learning. 3) Summative or rather at the end of the course or lesson, this is where the tutor assess the learners at the end of each course or lesson to evaluate their understanding of the concepts. 2.4 Providing opportunities for learners to practice their literacy, language, numeracy and ICT skills. As a tutor one should see to it that his or her learners are provided with the opportunity to practice their literacy, language numeracy and ICT, so how do you ensure that? Well, Literacy, the tutor should encourage the reading of various articles, journals, and encourage the peers to evaluate themselves. Language, the tutor ought to encourage group discussions as this helps in sharing of information, and in attaining good feedback from other group members. Numeracy, Numeracy simply means numbers, the learning process emulated by the tutor should encompass mathematical calculations. ICT, major the computer skills this should include the power point manipulation skills 3.1 Ways of encouraging and motivating learners in an inclusive learning environment. To start with, the tutor is the sole leader in the subject and his amount of interest in the subject matters a lot to the learners, for learners to, get motivated into liking the subject, the tutor ought to be very enthusiastic and have an exclusive passion for the subject, that is when the learners will like the subject (GRAVELLS, 2011, 143). Resources, there should be enough resources for referring to in case of anything that is when the students will have the knowledge available for them. ILP, as said above, ILP do assumes that each individual students needs are very different and therefore should be addressed very differently. It therefore suggest that the students ought to be treated differently (WILSON, 2009, 87). 3.2 Summary of ways to establish ground rules with learners to promote respect for others. This is just but a summary of various ways of establishing ground rules with the learners in order to promote exclusive respect for others. First and foremost the ground rules should be determined together, as in while the rules are being initiated both the students and the tutor should be available to witness and generously accept them. Another thing is leading by example, the tutors should promote respect amongst themselves that is when the learners will copy the same. 3.3 Ways to constructive feedback which motivates learners? Layered feedback, is very easier than one assessing his or her own work, to start with, this is where the learner reads and comments of the work of others and also the tutor comments, therefore the students should be encouraged to get informal feedbacks from their fellow learners Works cited GRAVELLS, A. (2010). Passing PTLLS assessments. Exeter, Learning Matters. WILSON, L. H. (2009). Practical teaching: a guide to PTLLS & DTLLS. Andover, Cengage Learning. WILSON, L. (2008). Practical teaching: a guide to PTLLS & CTLLS. London, Delmar Cengage Learning. GRAVELLS, A. (2011). Preparing to teach in the lifelong learning sector. Exeter, Learning Matters. FRANCIS, M., & GOULD, J. (2009). Achieving your PTLLS award: a practical guide to successful teaching in the lifelong learning sector. Los Angeles, SAGE. FRANCIS, M., & GOULD, J. (2013). Achieving your PTLLS award: a practical guide to successful teaching in the lifelong learning sector. Los Angeles, Calif. ; London, SAGE. Read More