ECS 401 - Philosophy of Assessment
Assessment is a critical component in learning that ensures students in succeeding in the classroom and developing their holistic wellbeing. Educators have the responsibility in ensuring a quality learning experience for all students that fulfills the standards that are provided in the provincial curriculum while being inclusive and fair to all learners. With that, educators are sometimes challenged and unsure on creating a learning practice that is well rounded and equal towards all students. This issue is caused by their curriculum standards lacking content that is culturally responsible and inclusive.
When looking at the curriculum, there are some issues that arise. Most curriculum documents throughout the K-12 system have not been updated in close to ten years and therefore are lacking critical content that is functional and relatable to all students. With this being a greater issue, educators need to understand the importance of taking the curriculum content and adapting it to the students in their classrooms. Although this can be a difficult task, due to the lack of change in the curriculum, the change must be made within individual teaching practices and assessments. With a constantly evolving society, assessments that may have worked at one point are no longer culturally responsive, inclusive or updated.
In order to assess in a culturally responsive manner educators need to move away from the traditional forms of assessment and teaching and move to alternative or authentic ones. By moving towards this form of assessment practice, our students will be more appropriately and accurately assessed. There is a clear link between understanding and engagement, so the importance of providing material that is engaging and relatable is high. To effectively do so, educators must look at differentiation in assessment for engagement. Curriculum content should be provided in a way that is relevant to students and keeps their interest which can be improved through culturally responsive content. Tasks will often need to differ among students and the degrees of difficulty may need to be changed or the task may need to focus on different experiences or interests for a wide range of learners.
With assessment being an essential component in the everyday classroom, it is important to acknowledge that it is something that needs to be inclusive and fair to all learners. As stated previously, the curriculum does not allow for effective diversity and inclusiveness to be incorporated into teaching and learning. As educators it is important to be aware of this issue and how to work to engage in culturally responsive practices so all learners can achieve their full potential as individuals. Moving forward, in today’s education system, authentic and inclusive assessment allows educators to adequately meet all students' needs.
When looking at the curriculum, there are some issues that arise. Most curriculum documents throughout the K-12 system have not been updated in close to ten years and therefore are lacking critical content that is functional and relatable to all students. With this being a greater issue, educators need to understand the importance of taking the curriculum content and adapting it to the students in their classrooms. Although this can be a difficult task, due to the lack of change in the curriculum, the change must be made within individual teaching practices and assessments. With a constantly evolving society, assessments that may have worked at one point are no longer culturally responsive, inclusive or updated.
In order to assess in a culturally responsive manner educators need to move away from the traditional forms of assessment and teaching and move to alternative or authentic ones. By moving towards this form of assessment practice, our students will be more appropriately and accurately assessed. There is a clear link between understanding and engagement, so the importance of providing material that is engaging and relatable is high. To effectively do so, educators must look at differentiation in assessment for engagement. Curriculum content should be provided in a way that is relevant to students and keeps their interest which can be improved through culturally responsive content. Tasks will often need to differ among students and the degrees of difficulty may need to be changed or the task may need to focus on different experiences or interests for a wide range of learners.
With assessment being an essential component in the everyday classroom, it is important to acknowledge that it is something that needs to be inclusive and fair to all learners. As stated previously, the curriculum does not allow for effective diversity and inclusiveness to be incorporated into teaching and learning. As educators it is important to be aware of this issue and how to work to engage in culturally responsive practices so all learners can achieve their full potential as individuals. Moving forward, in today’s education system, authentic and inclusive assessment allows educators to adequately meet all students' needs.