Assessing Learner Projects - Pedagogical Practice

Involving Learners in the Assessment Process

15 minutes

In conventional classrooms, learners expect the teachers to do all of the assessing. In learner-centred classrooms, learners participate actively in the assessment process. This new role may be difficult for some learners and sharing the assessment responsibilities with learners also may be a challenge for some teachers.

With learner-centred assessment, learners are more involved in all assessment processes. Research clearly shows the positive effect that learner-centred assessment has on learner learning (Black & Wiliam, 1998). Learners need opportunities to learn and practice many new skills, such as:

• Creating and using project plans, checklists, and rubrics
• Using reflection questions to help them think about and self-assess their own learning
• Setting goals, defining tasks, and predicting what will be learned
• Identifying difficulties they have in learning and considering strategies they can use to improve
• Giving and receiving feedback from their peers
  

When learners are engaged in assessment at this level, they develop feelings of control over learning and see themselves as successful, capable learners.

In this activity, you contribute to a wiki by sharing your ideas about the challenges and possible solutions for including learners in the assessment process—whether they direct their own project, assess themselves, provide peer feedback, or contribute ideas to project assessments.

1. Go to the wiki site that you recorded in the Login Information document saved in your temp folder.
   
   
2. Go to the Module 5 Pedagogical Practice wiki page.
   
   
3. In a small group, brainstorm a list of some of the challenges and solutions teachers may encounter when involving learners in the assessment process.
   
   
   1. The group recorder should enter your group’s ideas in the appropriate column of the page.
   2. Review the challenges entered by your colleagues.
   3. Think of possible solutions to the challenges listed, and enter your solutions in the Solutions column.
   4. Discuss the following:
      
      
   • Which challenges will be the most difficult for you to overcome?
   • What steps could you take to implement some of the solutions you are considering?

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