You might have repeatedly encountered the term ‘assessment’ as a teacher. No doubt there are too many techniques to learn maths, yet none can beat the assessment for learning method. Although the process is the best, we have encountered a lack of clarity regarding how the assessment for learning works and its specific benefit in maths. This article will discuss some tips you can use in your classrooms!
What Is Assessment For Learning?
Assessment for learning is a process used by teachers or institutes to test and analyze the teaching of students, where they lag, and what can make them better.
Assessment of learning is a procedure in which students’ comprehension is tested, and, based on the results, they are either promoted to the next grade or assigned a position. The assessment of students is carried out once they have learned for a particular period.
Formative assessment can occur numerous times throughout each class and includes a variety of strategies for enabling youngsters to share their thoughts. Among these approaches are:
- Observing
- Listening
- Questioning
- Discussing
- Examining their ongoing work
Why Is It Beneficial In Maths?
The AFL technique has provided students with greater control over their learning. This, in turn, increases their motivation and improves their assessment performance. In addition, it assists learners in seeing their goals and understanding what they need to do to accomplish them.
The benefit for a teacher is that they can have insight into a student’s grasp of a specific idea or topic. This allows teachers to assist specific pupils’ development.
Now that you know what assessment is for learning, let’s head straight to its implementation in mathematics.
Listening:
As teachers, you often judge a child’s mathematic ability by interpreting their answers on paper. But, as per research, a student can have high capability in maths yet secure fewer marks in examinations. Hence, please keep your eyes and ears open and listen to what they say to you and other students.
Grades Arent Enough:
Often after assigning students a task, you mark them based on performance. Yet that’s not enough. Along with letting them know the grades they have secured, you should make them rectify them. For example, if you find a question answered incorrectly, put up a comment asking students to correct it.
Active Feedback
Sometimes you may ignore how well a student can improve by discussing particular questions in maths. Your feedback should encourage them to discuss maths with you or their classmates. There are several institutes with IGCSE curriculum doing the same for their students.
Language is essential.
The language which is used to put up a question is essential. For example, if you put up a question like what will you get when you divide 12 by three? Questions like these have either a correct answer or a wrong answer. Assessment for learning is not the way a child can recall facts. Instead, asking questions like: can you tell me how you calculated the result could help students learn?
5. Set Unique problems
Always put up questions that students are most likely to get wrong. Then, the questions having high misconceptions can be asked to clarify them and encourage problem-solving skills to be deep thinking.
Wrapping It Up:
Some best international schools in Malaysia have implemented the assessment for learning techniques and witnessed a spike in students’ performance in maths. With consistency in accessing students’ performance, analyzing it, and taking measures to improve their skills, teachers can guide their students to be the best critical thinkers and face the real world. Ensure you follow the checklist mentioned above to implement the assessment for learning techniques.