Performance Assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning. Assessment Tasks enhance learning. An assessment task is planned keeping in mind the specific learning outcome that is expected or the output that is desired. The learning outcome determines the relation between what is taught and what is learned. This learning outcome that has to be achieved should be clear in the mind of the learner too.
An assessment task is a tool which has multipurpose objectives. The objectives could be any of these - appraisal, selection, differentiation, evaluation, review, grading of the learner, assessment of the knowledge gained. The objective of an assessment may not be single faceted, multiple aspects can also be assessed through a single assessment task. The task needs to be planned so that the maximum benefit can be reaped from the same.
Let’s take an example on listing all aspects that can be assessed through an assignment where the learners are required to work in pairs and prepare a presentation on India. The answer could be – Internet Skills, Knowledge, Content Arrangement, Content Delivery and Presentation Skills, Language Usage, Time Management, People Skills to name a few.
While drafting or allotting an assessment task the following points need to be kept in mind:
- The link between the learning outcome and the assessment task;
- The link between what is taught and the assessment task;
- Clear instructions should be given to go through the assessment task;
- It should be well spread over the entire lesson or topic;
- The task should be well drafted and in an unambiguous language;
- The objective of the assessment should be clear; for example, what exactly the facilitator intends to assess;
- The time to be allowed to go through the task should be proportionate to the quantum of work that needs to be done and;
- The marking guidelines and the judgment should be previously decided and clear in the mind of the learner and the assessor. There should be no ambiguity regarding the same.
Assessment Tasks are proof of learning. Once the process of assessment is complete, the further course of learning can be decided. Declaration of results, review of topics, reassessments are some of the steps which need to be performed after assessment is complete.
The process of designing an assessment task has been broken down into simpler sub tasks at http://www.pgcps.pg.k12.md.us/~elc/designsteps.html. It provides an interesting insight into the process of designing an assessment task.