Philosophy of Assessment

What is the most important part of teaching? Many people may say that it is the teaching. However, I feel that assessing what has been learned is more crucial. Assessing students is the most complex part of the teaching cycle.

Teachers must be fair and respectful when assessing students. As a teacher, I believe all students need to be assessed by the same standards. All students should be assessed by all methods, not different methods due to level or activity. In assessing a student, I will use both formal and informal methods of assessment. Often times, informal assessment is not considered which leaves a void in the total assessment of the student.

The use of tests and quizzes are indispensable to the assessment of mathematics education. In many classes, tests are the only form of assessment in math. I believe that in addition to tests, students should be able to apply the knowledge they possess at a higher level in "real world" projects. These projects allow the teacher not only to assess the mathematical component, but also the logical thought process as well as the ability to work in a group.

In addition to the periodic checks that tests and projects can provide, portfolios allow students together with teachers to assess their knowledge and progress over time. With both the student and the teacher making decisions about which items of work will become artifacts, both can see how the student's knowledge has changed. Portfolios allow students to demonstrate change over time, rather than just a static item from one day.

Overall, I feel that each student needs to be assessed in several different methods. This allows the teacher to provide a fair and unbiased view of how well the student has learned the material. As a teacher, I will use several types of assessment to make sure that all students are informed of their progress. Assessment is the teachers most difficult task, yet the most crucial.