Saturday, June 23, 2012

Assessment FOR Learning

This week, we read an article called "Electronic Portfolios as Digital Stories of Deep Learning." Obviously, we have begun studying what an e-portfolio looks like, why they are used, and their potential in the classroom. In the article, there were several points made about the idea of Assessment FOR Learning which is where you utilize assessment to promote learning rather than just assessing things that have been learned, Assessment OF Learning. Here are the points they made:



  • AFL should be part of effective planning of teaching and learning
  • AFL should focus on how students learn
  • AFL should be recognized as central to classroom practice
  • AFL should be regarded as a key professional skill for teachers
  • AFL should be sensitive and constructive because any assessment has an emotional impact
  • AFL should take account of the importance of (and foster) learner motivation
  • AFL should promote commitment to learning goals and a shared understanding of the criteria by which they are assessed
  • AFL develops learners’ capacity for self-assessment so that they can become reflective and self-managing
  • AFL should recognize the full range of achievements of all learners
  • Learners should receive constructive guidance about how to improve
The one I most relate to as far as my situation is "AFL should be recognized as central to classroom practice." Now this, I believe, is mostly due to the subject that I will be teaching: ART. Art, inherently, requires that students be assessed for learning through a portfolio. In order to know how to teach students and show them how to grow as artists, it is imperative that you take the work they've done and assess what the students need more of to gain knowledge and finesse in the medium. 

As far as portfolios go, I believe that having student porfolios is incredibly important in an art classroom, however I feel like e-portfolios would not make very much sense. Considering students are only in my classroom once a week, it would be far too time consuming. I believe having them keep a portfolio in folder or paper form would make much more sense. And as far as a portfolio for me, I think creating an e-portfolio will help me to understand how to make my physical portfolio stronger. An art portfolio is most often just a collection of pieces of art made and stored in the same place for easy access. An e-portfolio, however, can have so much more involved. Philosophies, artist statements, photographs, resumes, and growth reflections would round a professional portfolio out in a way that I have never really thought about before now. 

2 comments:

Dr. W said...

You're right about your students not having the time to create an electronic portfolio in your class. What about introducing them to the concept though? I'm sure today's learner would love the idea of showcasing their work!

Chris said...

The beauty of a portfolio too is that a student will at the end be able to see his or her own growth as an artist throughout the year. You're right in that e-portfolios have the awesome opportunity to be so interactive; and there is no doubt that we live in an electronic age. I wonder how much the kids could be expected to maintain one on their own, especially if they know their teacher checks up on it weekly...

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