Educational Psychology and Assessment - Free Essay Example

Describe key assessment methods and explain when you would use each one, highlighting pros and cons of each approach. Assessment methods are initial assessment, formative assessment, summative assessment, peer assessment and diagnostic assessment. At first as a teacher I will take initial assessment to know the abilities, styles and needs of the learners. Then I will use formative assessment to know the learners view and doubts about their course and again I will use formative assessment during the session to know about the learners. After this I will take summative assessment to know the result of the learners and at last again I will take initial assessment to check the level of the learners. Explain initial assessment and the role it has on learning programmes. Initial assessment is a process to understand the learning needs prior knowledge and learning styles of the learner. It helps in planning the session according to the learner’s requirement. It plays a vital rol e to find out about the learners. It will help identify a learner’s skills against a level or levels within the national standards. Learners may have different levels of reading, writing, numeracy and language skill. Initial assessment is often used to help place learners in appropriate learning programmes. It is usually followed by detailed diagnostic assessment. Explain the difference between formative and summative assessment and how you will incorporate both summative and formative assessment into your practice. Formative assessment helps both the learner and the teacher to review progress and is a central part of learning process. It takes place during the session or between the sessions. It helps the learners and the teachers to identify progress in relation to the learning plan. Progress should be recorded and new learning goals identified. As a teacher I should apply formative assessment to know the learners views and doubts about their course and this will make me to build up rapport with the learners. Summative assessment provides evidence of what a learner has achieved at the end of each session. It provides feedback to the learner and the teacher on achievement in the relation to the standards and curriculum documents. Summative assessment may take the form of a record of achievement, a unit of qualification, a whole qualification or test.