Lesson 6 - Grading and Reporting

According to Bobowski (2017), there are seven things to consider discussing with your students before assessing.

1. Explain where the test fits in the bigger picture.

2. Share how the test results will affect their overall class performance.

3. Pre-empt questions about what their data will look like and who will be seeing it.

4. Take the fear out of the testing jargon.

5. Clarify the testing environment.

6. Make any transition to computers or tablets easy.

7. Provide the dates of the next assessment.

FUNCTIONS OF GRADING AND REPORTING SYSTEMS

A. Enhancing students' learning

B. Reports to parents/guardians

C. Administrative abd guidance uses.

COMPONENT OF A GRADING SYSTEM

1. Standard of Comparison

• Norm-referenced grading - you will compare a student performance to other students' performance

• Criterion-referenced grading - you will compare a student performance to a pre-determined established standard

• Self-reference - you will compare it to what a students is able to do

2. Aspect of Performance

• What aspect of performance must be graded?

• One group of educators who claim only academic performance must be graded;

• Another group of educators asserts that in addition to academic performance, student's motivation, effort and participation should also be graded.

3. Weighting Different Kinds of Evidence

• This refers to how much weight is given to the different aspects or components of a student's grade.

WHY COMMUNICATE ASSESSMENT RESULTS?

• We document our assessment for accountability. So teaching leads to assessing learning, reporting and communicating assessment results. These results should be communicated clearly and accurately to learners as well as parents for improved learning.

• Sharing asssessment results is an opportunity to tell an important and meaningful story. Your role is to educate stakeholders about context, background, methods, results, and identifying possible solutions or next steps. 

• Therefore, it is a responsibility and opportunity for both parents and teachers.

SOME POINTERS IN COMMUNICATING ASSESSMENT RESULTS

1. To establish learning outcomes related to what we are assessing;

2. Document the process we used to assess the outcomes;

3. Tie the results back to our learning outcomes to communicate whether the program service "worked" as we intended and

4. Take note of decisions made as a result of the assessment process.

GIVING FEEDBACK TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS AFTER ASSESSMENTS

• A cliché, which works effectively, is to open the session with a positive feedback.

• Know the expectation of the student/parent from the feedback session; it acts as a compass for the teacher as assessor.

• Be very specific and stick to the pre-defined parameters or competencies to make reference.

• Cite example whenever possible to help the students/parent understand better.

• Involve the student/parent. Feedback has to be a dialogue and not a monologue.

• Be patient and display a great listening skills to create the required trust and rapport with student/parent.

• Allow the student/parent to explain the intent behind his/her action and differing opinion whenever appropriate.

• Refrain from passing a judgmental statement; your statement have to be suggestive rather than stated as absolute truths.

Report Card - a standard method of reporting students' progress and grades to parents.

Written Progress Reports - these can be weekly, bi-weekly or monthly reports of the students' progress and achievement. (McMillan, 2007)

Parent-Teacher Conferences - Durham (2006) asserts that "parent-teacher conferences are both a responsibility and an opportunity."

HERE ARE SOME REMINDERS FOR SCHOOL/TEACHERS TO GET THE MOST FROM PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES:

1. Announce the date for card-giving in advance.

2. Be positive in approach.

3. Be objective.

4. Have a listening ear.

5. Don't project an "omniscient image".

6. Practice good communication skills.

7. Don't talk about other students.

8. End with an encouraging note in the same way that you began with a positive note.