Assessing Student Learning (Blog #8)
Description: This week’s reading in EDAT 6115 focused on creating and implementing reliable assessment tools that effectively measure students’ proficiency in meeting instructional goals. Slavin (2018) emphasizes the importance of using data collected from assessments to modify instruction and provide meaningful feedback to students (p. 378). In addition, the information taken from this week’s reading encourages educators to utilize assessments purposefully in order to enhance teaching and learning. Analysis: It is important to continuously evaluate students throughout the learning process as it encourages accountability and effort for all involved. However, “the appropriate method of evaluation depends on the goal of the evaluation” (Slavin, 2018, p. 380). Therefore, assessments are only beneficial tools when implemented with purpose. For instance, intentional teachers understand that assessments that are aligned to instructional objectives function to evaluate what is