There are many ways to assess students in the classroom - some more psychologically damaging than others. To minimize trauma, assessment should be practiced holistically, allowing students ample room to grow and correct their errors so that they may learn from their mistakes.
The compilation of student work into a portfolio is a great place to start. Portfolio style assessment allows for formative and summative assessment in a way that is beneficial to both students and educators: progress can be tracked in both the short- and long-term, students learn valuable organizational skills, and teachers can refer back to one location for a snapshot of student learning.
Portfolio assessment cannot replace traditional testing, however, as studies have shown, it can reduce classroom anxiety and promote a healthier learning environment. This, as teachers, should be a critical goal.
November 4, 2009
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I love your idea about having the students create a portfolio. That would track their progress, and it is a great way for the student to visibly see their accomplishments. I feel that it is important to incorporate in the grading system that credits students for their progress throughout the year. Grading on a percentage right / wrong is not a true indication of what the student has accomplished.
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