7.5.10

Today we had a lecture and practice with "Language Assessment and Assessment Literacy". The first question presented to us was "Why do we test?"
 * 1) Assessment (I'm using my own way of classifying all of the points discussed)
 * Assessment of Students
 * to assign grades
 * to place students
 * to divide into groups
 * to check current level of achievement *within the current curriculum and class setting
 * *Assessment of Brad
 * use results to see if the current teaching design and methods are effective
 * to assess that the material is not too easy/ challenging
 * to assess that the current tests are adequately measuring the material.
 * If results are too low and the material is appropriate (find peers to consult about this), find what faults lie in me
 * 1) poor assessment of students learning styles/ needs
 * 2) poor motivation skills
 * 3) poor classroom management
 * 4) lack of knowledge in the material
 * 5) Etc...
 * 6) Analyze Learnng Needs
 * 7) Motivating Students
 * To create healthy levels of anxiety to motivate students to study
 * With caution and not often, create tests that might allow students who have low abilities (this usually reflects back on me, so don't use this as an excuse) or low motivation to do well so that they might build a little confidence.

We also talked about
 * 1) Assessment literacy, and knowing Why; What; How to test and Who tests whom; and what to do after the tests.
 * 2) Mismatches
 * 3) Curriculum Based assessment and Generic On Demand Assessment

And so on.............

The second "Main" part was on "Backward Design" which I loved, because I have a tendency to think in this way, which either makes me a genius, or crazy (I tend to think genius, but I think I'm in the minority) I backward design, there is a step by step process, working backward from the
 * 1) Desired results
 * 2) Determining what constitutes evidence of competency in the assessment
 * 3) Plan an instructional strategy that will bring students to the desired results

Today was a very functional lesson and should do me well in going into a Jr. High School that is lacking any form of curriculum. One of the statements that Tohsaku-sensei said was about the amount of time that it takes to successfully and effectively analyze your assessments and use them to create a better class. This is something that I am going to have to grasp hold of and never let go (at least not for a while). I am really just beginning and in order to become the type of teacher that I want to be, it is going to take time and a lot of effort. But, I know I can do it!!!!!!!!