The Importance of Classroom Assessment in 21st Century Learning

The fourth industrial revolution changed the dynamics of living: we see the convergence of physical, digital, and biological dimensions emerge, powered by new technologies and platforms that connect us in new ways. An era of limitless possibility and opportunity, the 21st century is seen not only as a time of rapid advancement in technology but also a period where continuous improvements for learning and knowledge sharing has become a primary concern. Teaching tools, assets, and content offerings and evaluation have undergone change and disruptions to raise the bar of excellence higher to comply with a globally competitive horizon.  

Last 2015, the Department of Education released a policy which sought to reinforce the importance of comprehensive methods of student assessment, a move which works to complement the then newly implemented K to 12 program. DepEd Order No. 8 mandated educational institutions to make classroom assessment an integral part of the curriculum. Assessment helps keep track of learners’ progress, induce self-reflection and personal accountability, as well as enhance profiling systems to help students learn better within a dynamic environment. The assessment of an individual learner´s performance is no longer limited to the academic portfolio but has since shifted to include an ongoing process of identification, gathering, organization, and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative sets of information. These new categories are designed to highlight how and what learners know, and more importantly, what they can do with it in practical, real-world situations.

With this, the mixing and matching of skills from thorough evaluation processes could be an answer to the growing demand of a more diversified audience, moving towards better customization and personalization of education. This integrated method is centered on the student not only as a learner but more so as a whole child, a dynamic person. 

TYPES OF CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT

In this framework, there are two levels of classroom assessment. First is formative assessment which is an in-process evaluation of students’ performance during a lesson, unit or course. This type of assessment helps educators identify the strengths and weaknesses of learners, which in turn is vital in improving lessons, modules, instructional techniques and academic support provided to improve a students’ learning experience.

The second level is called summative assessment. Usually provided after a unit or period of learning is completed, this next step helps describe the degree or standard reached by an individual learner after a certain period in the educational calendar. The results are recorded and used to report on the learner´s achievement, based on the rubrics followed by the institution´s program. These forms of evaluation aim to heighten the potential of every learner, guiding them to face the challenges of the real world by providing concrete measures or valuation for each learner´s unique learning capacities and cognitive processes.

REX Book Store’s Assessment Tools for the 21st Century

In line with this renewed thrust in holistic education and its campaign for helping raise a Whole Child, REX Book Store has come up with various Assessment tools carefully researched and designed to enable, elevate, and engage learners and educators in expanding learners’ potential in the 21st century.

Some of these new Assessment tools include ACES+, an internationally benchmarked, outcome-based, Partnership for 21st Century Learning Skills aligned standard-based assessment program which helps measure the holistic development of a learner. Guided by the Whole Child Approach, this program covers the evaluation of a learner's cognitive and non-cognitive ability, knowledge dimension, levels of understanding, as well as providing guidance for critical and practical 21st-century skills. The program aims to help improve a learner's self-efficiency, interests, and general attitude towards problem-solving and curiosity.

With an evaluation and support system designed in this direction, REX Book Store hopes to help stakeholders of the learning process to take their potentials to the next level.  Through standard features such as reporting and review for students, reporting for parents; reporting, guidance, as well as additional instructional support for teachers, with a comprehensive report and mentoring guide for educational administrators, a more distinct and targeted way of teaching could hopefully be implemented to form the whole child. 

Educators are called to raise the bar in teaching by making sure learners are given a holistic form of learning that would allow them to function at their best as they interact with individuals and communities. Assessment exercises and tools then play a significant role in education today. Through a holistic approach to classroom assessment, schools and institutions would be able to evaluate and facilitate higher-order thinking skills and learning processes that would help groom the present generation of young learners for what the future challenges us to solve today.

Visit www.rexbookstore.ph to know more about REX Book Store symphony of learning solutions and assessment offerings.