Verified Document

Why Are Portfolio Assessments The Best Tools To Use In Education  Literature Review

¶ … performance assessments. There will be a determination concerning how it assists in attaining educational goals. Educational assessment background will be presented and information on the way performance assessments are made use of in achieving goals will be analyzed. Assessing Student Performance

The effect professional development has on improving mathematics instruction was examined in a few studies. The first study was carried out and involved thirty-six teachers who took up professional development for 3 years. The fidelity in learning the professional development hugely affected judgment accuracy (Thieda, et al., 2015). The second study was done with sixty-four teachers drawn from eight schools that had been randomly selected to serve as controls or get professional development. Judgment accuracy was higher in teachers who received professional development and those with better ability to perceive computational skills of students than those teachers who didn't.

For instance, field education is widely appreciated as a key tool in the incorporation of theoretical know-how with practice in the real world. Furthermore, field education is the signature pedagogy for the Council Social Work Education (CSWE). Signature pedagogy of a profession, according to Shulman, is the mode of learning and teaching in an organization (Tapp, Macke and McLendone, 2012). Signature pedagogy examples include doing medical rounds in the field of medicine as well as student teaching as in teacher education. Three facets of professional practice are incorporated in the pedagogical approach: 1) Thinking, e.g. employment of professional knowledge, 2) utilization of occupational skills 3) integrity - operationalization of ethics and values in the field. Field education is a key way of learning and teaching and the students are socialized through social work education to do the job of a practitioner (Tapp, Macke and McLendone, 2012).

Educational Goal Assessment Background

Assessment involves evaluating and testing students so as to get a picture of the progress they have made towards the goals set for the program. It is valuable in any training process as it aids those involved to gauge their performance and how close they are to performance metrics to be attained. In physical education, quality assessment models would incorporate (New Hampshire Physical Education):

1. Formally stated instructional objectives (psychomotor, affective, cognitive)

2. Pre-assessment of the learners

3. Measuring attainment of objectives through reliable and valid tests in the course of and after delivering the right instructional activities

4. Evaluating the progress of students towards the desired results

A quality assessment models is grounded on the following principles (New Hampshire Physical Education):

1. Put up the right instructional goals by the use of local, state and national guidelines and standards.

2. Selecting/using the right measures in determining the progress of students in meeting the goals set. Assessment can be in several forms. Informal or formal tools can be utilized.

3. Developing an evaluation scheme which is a reflection of achievement of instructional objectives. Grading ought not be the only result in an evaluation scheme.

Purposes of assessment:

1. Student learning: educators use assessment to gauge the progress made by their students. They find out the strengths of their methods and the areas they need to grow in. Various tests like mid-terms and post tests can be used. The assessment may be unit-based or cover the whole school year.

2. Improvement of Teaching: Teachers make use of assessments in determining what in the teaching methods they employ are effective. What works is noted and the areas that need improvement are also worked upon. Various assessment tools may be made use of so as to determine the kinds of instruction most useful in meeting the students' needs.

3. Communication: Assessments should be utilized as a means to communicate between students, educators, parents and administrators. Students and parents always look at assessments to get a picture of the what and the how as far as learning is concerned. Educators make use of assessments in evaluating teaching methods and establish the gaps present in a curriculum (New Hampshire Physical Education).

4. Program Evaluation: Assessments can be a good way of gauging the effectiveness of a program and give pointers as to what needs changing so as to optimize the program to aid in the attainment of desired objectives.

5. Program Support: Consistent assessment may be utilized in validating a program. The data gotten may be objective and can evidence if the objectives or goals set are being attained by students and teachers. A good measure of the program can be done when clear data is available.

Portfolio Assessment

General performance is a reflection of the ability of a student to transfer skills and knowledge to different situations of learning by applying activity formats as well as instructional approaches,...

self-correcting, reflection, goal setting).
• Generalized execution of any skill in various settings and contexts using various response methods and materials.

Why Portfolio Assessments are the Preferred Method

Portfolio assessments give a comprehensive picture of the performance of a student. The evaluation of portfolio assessment enables a person to get an idea of the general picture of the capability of the student and also bring to light their strengths and the areas that need improving. Identifying the student's weaknesses gives him/her the opportunity to focus on those areas so as to make progress. Because it is a continuing process which needs continuous review and monitoring, collaboration between the teacher and the student is vital. In portfolio assessment, the student seeks to improve continually and so being more responsible (The Pros and Cons of Assessing Students). Critical thinking skills, selectivity, reflective analysis and creative assessment are improved as well. The anxiety that comes with doing examinations is also done away with. Further, particular information as regards the experiences of the students, work satisfaction and participation can also be established. This ensures that the various aspects of the curriculum are evaluated. Also, learning portfolios acknowledge individual learning styles. In this way, an approach that appreciates the individualistic styles of learning are instituted and so allowing learning to be more effective. Moreover, curriculum goals and objectives, enhancement of faculties and feedback development are made better through learning portfolios as timely evaluation of student effectiveness and learning is measured (The Pros and Cons of Assessing Students).

Two new circumstances have made portfolio management quite valuable in the current mid-size to large districts. First, the students in a majority of metropolitan settings have varied learning needs which cannot be served by a one-size-fits-all school. The districts must find ways of getting schools to redesign, personalize and specialize. The districts ought to encourage teacher innovation, give schools permission to come up with strong teams, and put their energies in the creation of conditions that ensure that strong schools are the norm and not the exception. Second, choice remains a weighty factor in most districts (Campbell, 2015). There is need to ensure that even the most vulnerable of students can access schools of high quality and that the parents are knowledgeable about the options available to them. School districts that find themselves faced with these realities can remain limited in the portion of institutions they run or they can be more innovative and collaborate in order to help the students. The portfolio approach is a good way of having districts become leaders in the field (Campbell, 2015).

Regular innovation and iteration, committing to implementing ideas as well as caution to not be comfortable with the status quo are the measures of good portfolio systems. Such actions separate the districts that are successful from those that are unsuccessful. For instance, California and Oakland began implementing their portfolio strategy in 2003; and the school system progressed dramatically over the years as low-performing schools were closed down, new smaller schools opened and principals given autonomy (Campbell, 2015). A few years later, the gains were halted as new leadership eroded the empowerment of the principals. The district is continually sliding back in test scores.

If evaluation of a student was to be done based on the work in this portfolio (like getting admitted to college), then the student shall select his best work's final version. In case the portfolio is to be used in seeing how students carry out a project, there might be a complete record of all drafts, revisions and activities. Sometimes, the reason for carrying out a portfolio is celebrating the accomplishments made. This here is a…

Sources used in this document:
References"

1) New Hampshire Physical Education K-12 Assessment Document. (2007, January 1). Retrieved April 7, 2015, from <http://www.education.nh.gov/instruction/curriculum/phys_ed/documents/assessment.pdf>

2) 2015 Educator's Manual for MCAS - Alt. (2014, January 1). Retrieved April 7, 2015, from <http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/alt/edmanual.pdf>

3) Thiedea, K., Jesse, D., Brendefura, J., Osguthorpea, R., Carneya, M., Bremner, A., Sutter, J. (2015). Can teachers accurately predict student performance? Teaching and Teacher Education, 49, 36-44. Retrieved April 7, 2015, from <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0742051X1500013X>

4) Tapp, K., Macke, C., & McLendon, T. (2012). Assessing Student Performance in Field Education. Field Scholar, 2.2. Retrieved April 7, 2015, from <http://fieldeducator.simmons.edu/article/assessing-student-performance-in-field-education/>
5) Campbell, C. (2015). How A Portfolio of Schools Meets Students' Needs. Improving Schools: What Works? 72(5). Retrieved April 7, 2015, from 'http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb15/vol72/num05/How-A-Portfolio-of-Schools-Meets-Students-Needs.aspx" target="_blank" REL="NOFOLLOW" style="text-decoration: underline !important;">http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb15/vol72/num05/How-A-Portfolio-of-Schools-Meets-Students-Needs.aspx <http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb15/vol72/num05/How-A-Portfolio-of-Schools-Meets-Students'-Needs.aspx>
6) Cadd, M. (2012). The electronic portfolio as assessment tool and more: the drake university model. The IALLT Journal, 42(1). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from <http://www.iallt.org/iallt_journal/the_electronic_portfolio_as_assessment_tool_and_more_the_drake_university_model>
7) Williams, S., & Staulters, M. (2010). Literacy Instruction in Rural Elementary Schools in Jamaica: Response to Professional Development. The Journal of Negro Education,79(2), 97-111. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://luce.sunymaritime.edu:2113/stable/20798329?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=portfolio&searchText=assessments&searchText=in&searchText=school&searchText=education&searchText=goals&searchUri=/action/doBasicResults?Query=portfolio+assessments+in+school+education+goals&prq=portfolio+assessments+in+school+education&group=none&fc=off&so=rel&acc=on&hp=25&wc=on&vf=jo&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
8) Arter, J., & Spandel, V. (n.d.). Using Portfolios of Student Work in Instruction and Assessment. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from <http://www.literacynet.org/icans/chapter02/portfolios.html>
9) The Pros and Cons of Assessing Students through Portfolios. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.teach-nology.com/litined/assessment/alternative/portfolios/
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Portfolio Assessment
Words: 2269 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

teaching profession in order to help students achieve various things. Goals for students are for example assessed in terms of problem solving, critical thinking, lifelong learning, and thinking independently. Further goals may include personal traits such as persistence, flexibility, motivation, and self-confidence. Portfolios are also helpful to reveal the work processes of students. Teachers can then help students to develop processes through which to monitoring their own learning, and be

Using the Portfolio for Reporting Progress
Words: 1615 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

reporting Progress Portfolio assessment is an increasingly popular tool in the field of education, both among programs in primary, tertiary, secondary and higher education. The tool is especially good for tracking progress, as it does not just show the results of a group of work or project it also demonstrates the evolution of thought and learning throughout a series of works. Instead of merely showcasing what the author believes to be

Education for Diversity Were You
Words: 648 Length: 2 Document Type: Thesis

It is important to recognize the many different areas within adult education, and what type of students these areas attract. Ultimately, for the adult education department to be successful, it must attract a wide variety of students, and keep at least some of those students coming back to continue their education in order to be successful. Adult education serves a vital role in the upper education system, and it

Differentiated Learning & Assessment -- PLC Presentation
Words: 1743 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Differentiated Learning & Assessment -- PLC Presentation Differentiated instruction and assessment recognizes that the individual needs, strengths and weaknesses of students must drive learning (Wormeli, 2007). Changing the outcomes of traditional lesson plans to account for differentiated learning is a fundamental part of ensuring student success. Each student's readiness, interest and learning profile is at the core of this approach. Students are diverse; therefore, instructional and assessment practices should be as

Reliability and Validity of Standardized Assessments in Adult Education...
Words: 606 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

Adult Learning Assessment Adult learners comprise one of the fastest-growing segments of students today, and adult learners typically have needs that differentiate them from the younger learner. There is already much scholarship devoted to how the adult student learns new information. This understanding of the different learning styles has been taken into consideration in the design of courses and curricula for adult learners. However, teaching tools are only part of the equation.

Understanding the Impact of Diversity in Adult Arts Education
Words: 2758 Length: 9 Document Type: Literature Review

Learning Objectives for Adult Education Managing and Exploiting the Impact of Classroom Diversity in Adult Arts Education As the American population becomes increasingly diverse, so goes classroom diversity (Cooper, 2012). By the end of the current decade, a White majority will no longer exist among the 18 and under age group. This rapid progression towards a plurality has already impacted primary schools, but the trend toward increasing diversity is beginning to affect

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now