Teach English in Linyezongchang - Xilinguole Meng — Xilin Gol

Evaluation and Testing I have chosen to give a summary of this topic since I consider it an important topic in any classroom setting not only limited to English lessons. I consider it as the most appropriate way of determining the level of understanding. Evaluation and testing are considered necessary within a properly functioning education system. I consider this topic very important as no serious study is possible without evaluation and testing as they are surely the best ways of judging the capabilities and progress of a student, and serious motivation for reaching new goals. What is the difference between evaluation and testing? The words can be used interchangeably, however it is essential to clarify the differences between evaluation and testing because they are technically different. For example, testing an individual student’s progress or achievements in any lesson is an important component of evaluation. In this case therefore, testing becomes part of evaluation. Testing can be described as part of evaluation which includes the measurement, and analysis of information about a student’s learning. Evaluation on the other hand is the activity which goes beyond student’s achievements and goes further to consider other aspects of teaching and learning and is used mainly to look at how educational decisions are arrived at. What is the purpose of evaluation and testing? Following a successful completion of a unit, it is obvious for a teacher to want to know what the students have learned and retained, the level they are at and what needs to be done to improve the students for the future. Evaluating a class also goes a long way in helping not only the students but also the teacher in judging how effective he or she is in the class and areas he or she may need to consider to improve in the future for better results or for him or her to achieve the objectives of his or her lessons. The most important purpose of evaluation would therefore be to help the teacher make a fair judgement about the quality or worth of an education system or program, or the proficiency of a student’s attainments. Secondly, evaluation and testing can be used to give students the opportunity to show what they have learned. It should not be used as a way of catching them off guard or to show what they have not learned. Thirdly, evaluation and testing can be used by the teacher as a way of motivating the students and showing them how they have learned and how they have been able to comprehend the subject matter towards attaining the objectives of the lessons. Finally, evaluation and testing can be used by the teachers to get useful information on improving their teaching methods to ensure successful lesson objective realization. It is worth mentioning and noting that there are different types of tests. The most common types of tests which as well have been discussed in unit 15 are, i)                    The placement test which is used to check language levels for admission into school. ii)                   The diagnostic test which is done by the teacher to know where to start to teach the students. iii)                 The progress test which is useful for a teacher to show areas of class improvements or weakness iv)                 Aptitude tests which are designed to predict a student’s probable future performances on a course. v)                   Achievement tests which are designed to assess student’s current knowledge and reference this forward to some future tasks. For example, and external examination. Effective evaluation and testing requires an understanding of the role of evaluation in planning, as delivering instruction and testing call on the teacher to become agents of change in their classrooms, actively using the results of testing to modify and improve the learning environment.