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- Essay Name : 758.txt
- Uploader :
- Email Address :
- Language : English
- Subject : Education
- Title : Evaluation Essay
- Grade : B+
- School System : Archdiocieese of Great Milwaukee
- Country : USA
- Author Comments : Essay on a possible system Evaulation in a class room
- Teacher Comments : Soild paper
- Date : 10-2-96
- Site found at : Link
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- Essay On Evaluation
- A system of evaluation is necessary in the classroom. It is important to choose a
- system appropriate for the subject being taught, the environment the students are
- learning in and how the students learn in general. If the system that is chosen will not
- suit those factors, learning can be hampered. But by selecting a system that is beneficial,
- learning can be greatly enhanced. In creating a system three areas need to be looked at:
- criteria, assessment, and grading.
-
- There are many criteria that can be used in judging an individuals performance.
- These criteria must be explicit and can not favor any particular group of people. For
- example, someone canÆt be judged by how much they talk in class for a couple reasons.
- First a student could just talk garbage and get rewarded. Second, some people have a
- very hard time speaking in class. This is not fair for the people with that difficulty. A
- better solution to for that problem would be what a student contributes to the class. This
- could range from sharing opinions and feelings to merely paying attention and not
- disturbing others. Another criterion that should be judged is effort. This can be very
- hard to judge, but it is necessary. A piece of work just at the last moment should receive
- a lower grade than a complete piece of work. Judge these kind of assignments can be
- difficult because some students donÆt require as much time to produce the same quality
- work as another student. Ideas is a criterion that would be essential because it shows that
- a student is thinking rather than just blindly throwing ideas on to paper. Judging ideas
- would also aid in evaluating effort. Other criteria that would be included are timeliness,
- spelling, attendance, and following directions. These criteria are fairly strait foreword.
- Assessment can be very tricky because each individual has a different way of
- expressing what they have learned. For instance, one student could participate in class
- often but on a test the student might freeze up. It would not be fair to that student to use
- test as the only means of assessment. Tests do have there place; the measure what a
- person at a given time. But a test does not show what a person at any time, what
- information actually sticks with him/her. The test should not make use of trick questions
- that judge the persons problem solving skills, when knowledge of the subject should be
- the are being tested. In advanced writing papers should be the major form of
- assessment; since that is the subject being taught. Homework could also be used as
- assessment, but the importance would be minimal. The main focus should be placed on
- the next paper; homework could be done to assist in writing the next paper. Assessment
- should mainly be done by the teacher, who has the least biases position. If the
- assessment is done by a fellow student, the results have the potential of being flawed; a
- friend could give a friend a good grade, while an enemy could give a poor grade.
- Self-assessment has the same potential of being flawed. The honesty of the student could
- be flawed and the student would give himself/herself a undeserved grade, either good or
- bad.
- Grading is a significant part of this process. A poor grading system can greatly
- discourage students. On the other hand, a well suited grading system can bring out the
- potential of a student. Weighted grades are a fair way of grading because this allows the
- students to focus on part of the class. Furthermore, extra credit should be able to bring
- up grades. Extra credit should always be available to the students because it is easy to
- mess up on an assignment, and the students should have the opportunity earn some
- points. Curves are another area that can hurt a students grade and confidence. Some
- grading curves forces the students to fight to be perfect. Students could even turn-in high
- quality work and get a penalty for not being as perfect as his/her classmates. If a curve is
- necessary, the curve should only benefit the students grades; if the curve does not
- improve the grade, the curve should be disregarded.
- By structuring the areas of criteria, assessment, and grading to the needs of the
- class, learn can be taken to its greatest potential. While the ideal would be absolutely no
- grades, the current system of education demands grades. The grades given should reflect
- the studentÆs overall accomplishments.
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