Classroom Assessment

As a warm up, Dr Jorge Cubillos asked the participants:

1. What is a test?
2. Why do we test
3. Are tests necessary in education?

The answers were various but they all emphasized that tests are a means to measure students’ development. The tests formats differ following the objectives of the tester. The participants also stressed the importance of tests as an integrative part of the whole process of learning both for teachers and students. This process, as Dr Cubillos stressed is cyclical:

Then Dr Cubillos pointed out to the idea that tests are but a sample of students performance. They are not always perfect tools to evaluate students competences.

Afterwards, the participants together with Dr Cubillos discussed the traditional views on testing that consider assessment equal to testing. Besides, tests are teacher centered since the teacher controls what, when, and how to test? The purpose of these tests was to judge rather than to evaluate students’ progress. Furthermore, there was no direct connection between teaching and testing and the emphasis was on sub-skills assessment.

Next, Dr Cubillos and the participants discussed the current methods in testing that tend to be more learner centred.Using portfolios has become one of the most widely used formats of testing. The goal is to assess students/trainees progress and help them develop their competences and skills. Besides, portfolios establish a direct relationship between the teacher and the students /trainees.

In the second session, Dr Cubillos distributed a handout on the different types of tests and the main terms that are used in the field of testing. The participants had to match the terms with the appropriate concepts. Then, Dr Cubillos raised the issue of multiple choice questions as a testing formats and highlighted both their advantages and disadvantages.

Next, he distributed a handout for the participants to see to what extent their tests are learner centred.The participants then asked Dr Cubillos to show them how they can effectively use portfolios and respond to their students and trainees. He stressed that the response should be holistic, rather than selecting each item, which will be tiresome for the teacher. On their parts, trainees or students should have to select their best achievements to include in the portfolio. There is also the possibility that trainees or students exchange their portfolios.

At the end, Dr Cubillos gave the participants a handout with a bibliography about some books on testing.

Submitted by: Kairit Khadija
and Benhadouch Mohamed