Ivonne Asmad M.

Summary of the text: Classroom assessment: a Plea for Change*

This report is about classroom assessment procedures and is a plea for change
because we have to make modifications in some aspect in the teaching process in
every context (universities, schools, among others).
The educational system has implemented traditional evaluations, which are
psychometric test score oriented in the best or the worst student (comparing the
performance students with the group), as the TOELF test. As future teachers, we
have to introduce edumetric test, which focuses more in knowledge results than
the scores.
The paper made a comparison between those approaches and why exist a plea for
change. Because of this facts, it can conclude that the traditional test as TOELF do
not measure students language abilities, because do not have credibility, the
multiple-choice test is no longer acceptable, the grading system should be based
on multiple exposures, multiple devices complemented by students self-
assessment and peer-assessment. To contrast this, in 2005 appears the
Educational Testing Service (ETS), since the educators now are looking for a more
comprehensive qualitative way regarding the learners ability through multiple
measures in multiple occasions. It should be done to clarify as detailed as possible,
the objectives, the procedures to achieve those objectives, the expectations for the
students, among others. Of course, the traditional educators resist to these types
of alternative assessments. They are accustomed to the traditional system
because demand less time, is more easier and cheaper that the other system.
Alternative Assessment involves a passive accumulation of skills:
1. Serves as a monitoring device for learning
2. Test are given at a particular time to sample student learning
3. Test reporting a single score
4. Test are keep hidden to assure confidentiality
5. The student learning is not only monitored but also involved in making
decision about their abilities
6. Teachers assess students periodically
7. External monitor assess both students and teachers performance and
discusses with them.
The major aim of language assessment is to ensure equity in educational
opportunities and it is an entire process to inform us on the decisions we make and
the actions we take.
- Innovative test refers to procedures and techniques that can be incorporated into
daily activities of the classroom as: portfolios, self and peer-assessment,
conferencing, diaries and learning logs and teacher checklist and observations
Also, magnifies the concepts of students reflection on their learning process.
Nonetheless, many students do not reflect, conceptualize and experiment on their
course works because they go straight with another experience even without a
feedback of their previous work. For this reason many students make little progress
in English classes.
- Factors contributing to the implementations of assessment: educational culture,
physical condition of the classroom, the number of students, the learners
motivation and attitude, future expectations, perception of the teacher, perceptions
of the social en economic values of education.