Rethinking Assessment: A Tool for Growth and Empowerment
Time for a New Approach
So often we think of assessment as a test or a quiz. We take that quiz at the end of a unit. We got it or we didn’t. We get a grade and we move on. For too many kids, they have a negative association with assessment and feel like tests are a judge of their self-worth. Kids used to scoring well might find assessments validating, until they don’t do well and then feel like a failure. Students who struggle with assessment might develop anxiety related to assessment and dread taking these traditional tests and quizzes.
While more traditional tests and quizzes have a place, we want to think broadly and expansively about assessment.
Instead of thinking just about “how will I assess learning” we want to think about – how will I build a culture of growth that not only helps students grow, but helps them see their strengths, feel seen and valued, and develop a mindset that they are and will be life long learners.
Our goal is to both help students grow AND shift their mindsets, where necessary, to help students see assessment as a tool that empowers them rather than a judgement on their worth.
Students' Feelings about Assessment
Think about your learners and student profiles. What is their relationship with assessment?
What Empowered Assessment Looks Like
Our goal is to develop empowered learners by using assessment as a tool that helps them:
- Strengths: Help students see what they’re good at.
- Growth: Support growth in key skills and competencies.
- Reflection: Give students opportunities to tell the story of their progress so they see themselves as lifelong learners, capable of growing through effort and reflection.
You must be logged in to post a comment.