What I have learned from this course, so far, is that assessments are significant parts of a learning progress. Assessments are not for grade getting nor for accomplishing school requirements. Instead, assessments help learners evaluate their current status in relation to their learning goals. As for the teachers, assessments help them evaluate whether there is a need to change in teaching techniques or strategies in order to help learners achieve learning goals.
From Module 7, Feedback and Reporting, I have learned that assessments become more valuable when they are valid and reliable. How do they become valid and reliable? One way is by having clear rubrics, fair grading system, and timely feedback. Rubrics help learners determine the why’s and how’s of a certain task. A fair grading system leads to learner motivation. A timely feedback encourages learners to improve.
For the teacher’s side, having clear rubrics, fair grading system, and timely feedback help him evaluate the learner’s progress justly and without doubt.
With this course, the learner’s mindset I have acquired as a child (being grade conscious) has been changed. Now, I want to be a teacher who does not base my learner evaluation on grade getting but on his overall progress in terms of the learning goals vis-a-vis his personal learning style and intelligence.
Better Teachers 