Charting your child’s growth to Success…

Taking into account factors such as the knowledge, skill set, attitude and opinions, Educational assessment is a process that records and evaluates these factors in measurable terms. Assessment can be of many types. It can be objective and subjective, formative and summative, formal and informal, and criterion- based and norm-referenced etc.

It is the duty of a teacher to not only teach but also evaluate correctly a student’s performance by taking various kinds of tests. These tests or examinations help to determine how much knowledge has been acquired and how much development of reasoning and analytical skills have taken place.

KINDS OF ASSESSMENT

Before a teacher starts teaching, it is imperative that he/she provide a baseline or a benchmark to determine former knowledge. Only after its establishment should the teacher proceed with the lessons and subsequent evaluation also called as Initial assessment/ Pre-assessment or Diagnostic assessments.

Educative assessment or ‘Formative assessment’ is done throughout the ongoing course. It is simply the provision of feedback on the student’s work. This kind of evaluation can be done by the teacher as well as the fellow classmates and can take the form of diagnostic or standardized tests.

Summative assessment is done at the end of a course or project. They are the main evaluative assessments wherein the final grades are assigned to the students, based on the performance of their formative assignments and summative test results.

Criterion-referenced assessment is done when the student’s performance is evaluated against a pre defined objective or criteria.  Norm-referenced assessment is a great way of comparing students’ performances. e.g., IQ test

A Formal assessment is a systematic evaluation usually taken written wherein a student is graded on his performance, e.g. a written test. An informal assessment is very different. It is more casual and the student is questioned in a relaxed manner.

Internal assessments are very common. Usually it’s the teacher teaching the subject who grades or marks the assignment. External assessment is the evaluation done by an examiner who is non-biased. Usually, external examiners are called from a different school or college or they can be members of your school but are not the subject teachers of the particular class they are grading.

Evaluation plays a vital role in formulating effective teaching strategies. This is why the true purpose of assessment should be that children,

• Learn and acquire desired skills related to different subject areas

• Acquire a level of achievement in different subject areas in the requisite measure

• Develop child’s individual skills, interests, attitudes and motivation

• Understand and lead a healthy and productive life

• Monitor the changes taking place in child’s learning, behavior and progress over a period of time

• Respond to different situations and opportunities both in and out of school

• Apply what is learnt in a variety of environment, circumstances and situations

• Work independently, collaboratively and harmoniously

• Analyze and evaluate

• Be aware of social and environmental issues

• Participate in social and environmental projects

• Retain what is learned over a period of time

Source: http://educational-assessments.blogspot.in/

CBSE’s new Evaluation Pattern: CCE

“CCE helps in improving student’s performance by identifying his/her learning difficulties at regular time intervals right from the beginning of the academic session and employing suitable remedial measures for enhancing their learning performance. The scheme of continuous and comprehensive evaluation has inbuilt flexibility for schools to plan their own academic schedules as per specified guidelines on CCE.”

-CBSE, New Delhi

In this article we shall take a look at the three main features of CBSE’s latest education and educational assessment system.

1. The Brand New Education Pattern
2. The New Evaluation Scheme
3. The Grading Scheme

On your Toes!

Yes, this sums up CBSE’s new approach to education. The CCE pattern given by CBSE for classes VI to X, is a marked departure from the old conventional teaching and examination system where the student was tested thrice and even once annually at many places.

The CCE pattern stands for Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation. This new healthy pattern has been introduced with a view to nurture and develop every aspect of a child’s personality as he grows; and considerably lessen the study pressure and examination fear in students.

CCE pattern focuses on the development of these four skills:

• Investigation of the situation/topic,
• Deductive Method wherein the student makes explains a given situation/topic based on his previous knowledge,
• Co-relation with a real life situation and,
• Use of Information Technology i.e. how can the problem-situation be resolved with the use of information technology?

The four best features of this pattern are:

1. 6 Exams (4 Formative Assessments + 2 Summative Assessments) spread over the year.
2. No repetition of syllabus already covered by the previous tests.
3. Small course portions to decrease the pressure of studies
4. Oral reports, presentations and projects as part of the test scheme

Formative tests are conducted four times in an academic session, and carry 40% weightage during the final assessment. In addition to this, various assignments like projects, models, charts, group work, worksheet, survey, seminar, etc. are given to the students.

Summative assessments are three hour long written tests conducted twice a year. The first summative or Summative Assessment 1(SA-1) will be conducted after the first two formatives are completed. The second (SA-2) are conducted after the next two formatives. Each summative carries a 30% weightage and both together hold a 60% weightage during the finals.

New Scheme of Evaluation:

As a part of the new assessment plan, students are graded through a series of curricular and extra-curricular evaluations along with academics. This is done to foster an all round development of the student. Grades are awarded to students based on work experience skills, dexterity, innovation, steadiness, teamwork, public speaking, behavior, etc. It helps to instill confidence and bring to the forefront the talent of those students who are shy or do not perform so well academically.

The Final Assessment:

In the CCE pattern, emphasis on self improvement is given. Instead of letting students compete for marks, the CCE allows for grading wherein students work to better their own grades and not worry about losing to another child due to half a mark or one mark!

At the end of the session, the final results are calculated in the following manner.

Formative Assessment Weightage = 40%

Summative Assessment Weightage = 60%

The formative score is added to the summative score, i.e. 40% + 60% = 100%. Depending upon the percentage obtained, the board will deduce the CGPA and thereby determine the final grade. Along with this an optional online aptitude test is conducted to help students decide the choice of subjects for further studies.

Genee Scope- The First of its Kind Ergonomic Designed Microscope for Classrooms of Today

Genee Scope is a ‘Sensible’ Microscope which can outsmart Traditional Microscopes in every way. Some of the excellent features which this 21st century Digital microscope carries are as follows:-

Extremely Portable and Interoperable
Portability is the best feature this Student Presentation Microscope carries. Because of its portability teachers can comfortably carry it from one classroom to another classroom. It’s easy to carry sleek structure along with its sturdy base turns it an easy to store gadget.

Immensely Interoperable
Genee Scope is a wondrous digital microscope which can be easily connected to Laptop, Computer and Interactive whiteboard using USB connectivity to visualize things invisible things. Things which are impossible to see with naked eyes like dust particles, microorganisms, Blood samples, water samples etc. can be easily seen with the help of Genee Scope.

Excellent Magnification range
Unlike traditional bulky cameras, Genee Scope consists of compact battery compartment, bright LED lighting, removable camera/ Magnification head with magnification range up to 100 times which makes it excellent for viewing specimens or slides and capturing its snap shots as well.

Best suited for visually impaired students
Genee Scope is intelligently designed to provide a clear view of smallest and tiniest particles to visually imparted students as well.

Ergonomic shape
Genee Scope is specially designed by keeping ease and comfort of students in mind. The Ergonomic shape and structure of this Digital Microscope is best suited for younger students. It’s easy to grip handle for up and down movement of lens gives them an easy focus.

Robust designing
Electronic Digital Microscope is robustly housed in a sturdy plastic case ensuring high durability and minimum cleaning requirements. Moreover, Genee Scope doesn’t have any moving parts as well which makes it a most preferred option within students and teachers of today.

USB connection
Last but not the least; it has USB connection to magnify, capture and modify the images.

Besides these superb features; Genee Scope is also environmental friendly, durable, carry no power issues and does rapid focusing instantly.

Genee Toolbar- An Innovative Piece of Interactive Software

Genee toolbar; a collection of user-friendly interactive teaching tools; designed to work alongside any software application and curriculum content.

It is vivaciously designed interactive software that works very effectively in conjunction with digital tablets, interactive whiteboards, visualisers and document cameras. The best part is that it allows instant and easy access to various captivating presentation tools.

Unlike other interactive software, Genee toolbar allows teachers to teach students with utmost ease and comfort. Some of the unique features which make it different from other interactive software are:-

Completely Interoperable: - Genee Toolbar is a key to make all ICT products interoperable as it works in conjunction with the interactive whiteboards, visualisers and graphic tablets.

Immense Compatibility: - Amazingly, Genee toolbar is highly compatible with Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP.

Conveniently placed and useful tool: - Genee toolbar takes a cosy space at the bottom of your whiteboard screen making it all the more convenient to be use by students and Teachers. Its useful icons like keyboard, slideshow, eraser, clear screen, next, back, annotation, Image Capture, Video Capture, Spotlight and highlighter can be used very effectively during presentations and classroom sessions.

Instant data video recording: - Genee toolbar also carry an option to record the teaching data, videos, images or any relevant information which is getting projected on interactive whiteboards in compressed mode or non-compressed mode for video capturing tasks.

Easy recoding with numerous video formats: - The best part is that users can easily do the data recording in number of formats including AVI, MPEG, Mpg, Dat, Flv, DivX and Wmv.

What more anyone can ask for! It’s a wonder toolbar for teachers as it allows them to move backwards and forwards though slides, stop slide shows, annotate or highlight over data displayed on the board, reveal and spotlight item of interest.

Educational Assessments

Educational Assessments are the means of determining student knowledge about the subject and help in removing any misconceptions. Today’s students are into global world that will demand more understanding and abilities. Students need to understand the subject basics, but also to think decisively, to investigate, and to make conclusions. Helping students to advance these skills will require changes in Educational Assessments at the school and classroom level. The aim of Educational Assessments is to advance student learning. Educational Assessments provides students, parents/guardians, and teachers with valid data concerning their progress and knowledge of subject. Educational Assessments should always be viewed as data to analyze student achievement. Educational Assessments are based on the levels of achievement and standards developed for those curricular goals. Educational Assessments requires the collection of data of student performance over a period of time to measure learning and knowledge. A student may know the subject theoretically but practically he may not. Efficient teachers use modern Educational Assessments techniques and tools regularly and on a daily basis to improve student learning. Some Modern tools used for this objective are interactive learning response system and visualiser.

Introduction of response system has revolutionized the assessment in 21^st Century. There is teacher handset, sets of audience handset, receiver and software. The teacher asks questions in various formats such as text, numeric, multiple choices, yes or no, true or false etc .the software collects data about responses which teacher can use for assessment. Even the shyest child can give his answer with confidence.

A visualiser is an ICT (information and communication technology) based digital presentation and teaching tool that is connected a projector and variety of display devices like projection screen, plasma screen, television , whiteboard. Visualiser is a kind of video camera that can show detailed view of text, 2D or 3D object placed under it on projection screen, plasma screens etc. The learning environment and teaching ideas are greatly enhanced and improved by deploying the visualiser in the classroom. The stimulating visual technology of the visualiser assists the students to learn and visualise the subject developing their concentration skills and recollection of the ideas in a better manner than traditionally. Visualiser helps the students to visualise the subject matter and improve their logical abilities and understanding of the subject.

The teachers found they could communicate the subject matter with greater impact and increased student participation with the visualiser. Students show their work to the whole class and assess their work.

Therefore, Time has come to incorporate these educational assessments tool into classrooms enhancing student learning.