Why Is Assessment Important?

It is important for teachers to conduct good assessment so that they will know

• How well they are teaching
  If students all achieve well in a program, it is likely that the program is being successfully taught to them (although it could also be that the material is too easy, or that the students are remarkably capable and are learning despite poor teaching). If some students do well and others do not, the teacher has information about which group in the class needs extra help, or which topics were less well taught than others.



• How well the students are learning
  The information that assessment provides gives the teacher a profile of each student's learning (if the assessment is authentic, that is). This information is valuable in forming groups for remediation, further instruction, or acceleration.



• Whether they are teaching the right material at the right time
  Some material is harder to learn if it is not approached in the right manner or at the right time or in the right sequence. Assessment information helps teachers check on their pedagogy, timing, and sequencing.



• What they should teach next
  When students have achieved one expectation in a program, as indicated by an assessment measure, a well-informed teacher knows what those students are ready to learn next. This decision is not necessarily as simple as following a prescribed scope and sequence but may involve subtle professional judgment that takes into account other issues, such as learning style or previous experience.



• What they should teach again
  Whenstudents fail to learn something in a program, the teacher can investigate a number of possible causes (perhaps the material was not sufficiently accessible, the teacher's presentation did not connect with these students, or the students were not engaged or able to achieve at high levels for one reason or another).



• What they do not need to teach at all
  Sometimes students show that they are already competent in a skill, knowledge, task, or concept that has not yet been taught. In that case, the topic can be covered lightly -- or sometimes not at all.



• Whether they are covering the expected curriculum satisfactorily
  Teachers can use assessment information to ascertain if the expected skills, knowledge, concepts, and so on are being covered and understood by the students.



• What to report to parents and administrators
  Assessment information is exactly what teachers need to report to parents on student learning.



• Where they stand on issues of accountability
  Teachers who willingly embrace good assessment as an important part of their program are making it clear to the community of parents, administrators, and politicians that they are happy to be held accountable for their programs.

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Reading Online, www.readingonline.org
Posted November 2000
© 2000 International Reading Association, Inc.   ISSN 1096-1232