I t is necessary to evaluate students to determine their academic strengths and weakness. Once the students’ academic level is determined lessons plans can be developed that are at the proper level of difficulty for the students. This approach will help insure students success.
Evaluating students is something that should be done continually so that you can provide feedback about any change in status (good or bad). This will allow you to help the student stay on task and make any changes or relish any improvements as necessary.
A few reasons for evaluating students are to see if they are learning it is also a reflection of your teaching.
Evaluating students has a two fold emphasis. It helps the instructor to know if his or her teaching style is benefiting students in a way that their knowledge is increasing.
Secondly, it helps the instructor to better understand whether students are learning and retaining the material. Under both conditions, instructors are able to assess the course content, class room management and delivery method to determine if changes are needed.
Students are evaluated so that their instructors can identify their point of understanding the curriculum. Based on this evaluation the individual student with the most need can be identified and given individualized help on the subject matter.
Hi Kristin:
Very true - and by evaluating on a regular basis, the instructor has the opportunity to speak to the student and assist with difficulities in understanding any of the content.
Regards, Barry
Hi Siane:
Right - and by doing so, we can offer the student a chance to make changes in study habits before it's too late, and they fail.
Regards, Barry
I need to know at different intervals where each student stands as far as learning the contents of the course. There are individual lessons in my courses that have a sequence, and I need to know that everyone is on the same page before I continue to the next level. I also derive all kinds of info from the individual evaluations about habits, skills they are lacking. For instance, if they are good at one part of the lesson and not the other, I need to sit down w/ that individual student and get them up to par.
The biggest reason for evaluating students in a class is to determine (for both the student and the instructor)how the student is doing. Are they retaining the material? What areas do they need more assistance in? This helps the student know what they need to focus on, and it tells the instructor if they are being clear in class. If the instructor is "failing" to reach a student, the instructor can try a new approach.
Having a morning quiz would be a good idea if you have students ariving late for an early morning class. It may motivate them to be on time. On the other hand it may motivate them to use more excuses for being late.
Ruth Armstrong
Barry,
one reason for evaluating students is to inform them of theri progress in the course. Another reason si so you know where students. When you develop a good system of evaluatinf students, you can tell if you are on target and getting the message across with your teaching mehods, or you can evaluate whether you need to do something differently.
Ruth Armstrong
To find out what they know and what they need to improve on.
Evaluating students gives them a chance to see where they are in relation to others in their given field. If they earn a grade of A, they will know that the instructor believes they are very familiar with the ideas and concepts of the subject matter. A "B" student will know that they have learned much about a subject and may want to consider further study. Any student with a C or below should really consider retaking the class or seeking additional assistance such as a tutor.
Evaulations are important feedback for both the student and the instructor. They both get information as to how they are doing.
Hi Janet:
Absolutely - we as instructors need to be sure a student is receiving the material and compare their knowledge agains t a prepared standard that has been explained to the class, like a rubric or grading system.
Regards, Barry
Hi Janet:
Respectfully, I disagree.
While these methods you've mentioned definitely are valid methods, can we consider there might be more ways than just these three?
What kind of assessment might we consider for an online group?
Regards, Barry
The reasons for evaluating students is to assess their comprehension of the curriculum. This can be done in a formative setting throughought the course or in the summative setting at the end of the course.
Evaluating students on a regular basis enables you, as the instructor, to pinpoint students' strenghts and wweaknesses. Also this enables the instructor to see where they need to spend more time on a particular skill or what information the students have not grasped. Evaluations are a win win situation for all involved. The students' progress is checked as well as the instructors' ability to get their point across. My students are evaluated on a weekly basis, depending on the results I am better able to deliver instructional content.
Hi Linda:
It's important to know if the student is getting the material.
It used to be lecture-test-lecture-test with remediation as necessary.
In today's market we have so many tools available to us that can make evaluating a student more fun and variable.
Regards, Barry
Hi Laura:
To echo what you've said here, evaluatons should be consistent and the same across the board for everyone involved.
Often, the use of rubrics can help remove all dowubt of the grading expectations.
Regards, Barry
