Factors Influencing Classroom Assessment

The world has become a global village and everything is one click away. In these evolving scenarios, there are certain factors which are influencing our classrooms and the way of assessment in classrooms. The purpose of classroom assessment is to assess what students have learned and to what extent they have attained the information or topic which they have been taught. Apart from this, there are some other aspects of assessment which include enhancing motivation and bringing a sense of achievement among the students.

Some of the vital factors which influence classroom assessment are as follows:

• 21st Century Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions

• Technology

• Principles of Cognitive and Sociocultural Learning and Motivation

• Standards-Based Education

• High-Stakes Testing

• Data Literacy

In the 21st century, things are advancing at a rapid rate. The world has become a global village. For which the students need to have a deep understanding of the concepts. Other factors that are required are the development of their cognitive skills. To understand the trends and practices going around the world the students must have a broader perspective. Their knowledge base should be strong. Today’s generation needs self-direction, risk-taking and determination to advance in their careers. The assessments should be able to cater for the needs of the 21st century.

Technology has opened many ways to acquire knowledge. Technology is a constant source of knowledge and that has affected classroom assessment. New technologies are emerging for assessments that stir the problem-solving skills of the students where the conventional method of assessment would do no good. New classroom teaching methods are incorporated to maximize the learning of the students.

Student’s learning is not limited to the classroom only. Learning is a continuous process that is happening outside the classroom as well when the students interact with society. Self-regulation enhances the ability to adapt to new situations. Students react to the information by relating it to what they already know. For the classroom assessment to be effective it should be aligned with the interests of the students towards which the assessment is directed. Motivation is enhanced by the feedback provided on the assessment and thus enhances learning.

The benchmarks or the standards are crucial in classroom assessment. They set the limit to which the assessment should be directed. These are the common objectives that can help determine the weak and strong areas of learning and instruction as well. The standards help the teacher to take the students to the same level and develop the skills in them. Identification of weak areas is also easily done with the benchmark.

Classroom assessments greatly affect high-stakes testing. The classroom assessments prepare students for high-stakes testing. High-stakes testing is not an isolation process. It builds up from the assessments that were taken before that. There is a term used ‘teaching to the test’ it is teaching what is required in the test. Students are prepared for the high-stakes test. These tests determine whether the student will graduate or not. Due to the stakes attached to these tests, the assessments are based on meeting the criteria of those tests.

Data literacy skills are becoming important in the global era of today. Data literacy is important for teacher learning. Assessment is carried out on a continuous base. Using data literacy to produce an assessment that will influence teaching and the students learning. Data literacy can be used to determine the pre/post-test analysis. The learning curve of the data obtained from the results can be used to evaluate the teaching and learning of students. A new strategy for the assessment can be adopted based on the data obtained.