Teaching Mathematics - Essay Example

The points specified under strands and expectation can be used as a basis for assessment. For example these can be written in the table as row headings, and the ‘levels’ as the column headings. The students could then be categorised for each expectation and then an overall level can be determined. This would help identify strengths and weaknesses of the students so that particular attention can be paid to improve their performance in any particular strand. A preponderance of level 1 attainments would show that the student has demonstrated only limited knowledge, understanding, display of skills, and the ability to express correctly, use terms and apply what has been learnt.

In contrast, a preponderance of level 4 attainments would show that the student has demonstrated a thorough knowledge, understanding, display of skills and a high degree of effectiveness in the other aforementioned skills and abilities. Level 2 and 3 are of course in between these two extremes. The performance-based assessment has provided the opportunity to break down the overall task, allow the assessment of knowledge, understanding, thinking, communication and application in more detail, and for the students to reinforce and demonstrate specific skills, which they otherwise would not be able to if this was purely a written test for instance.

Also, performance-based tasks and assessments bring about the following benefits over traditional