Assessment at ASL

Assessment is the process of collecting and analyzing information about a student’s development and progress towards desired learning outcomes. Reflection, evaluation, feedback, recording and reporting are integral components of this process. Professional judgment is inherent in effective assessment.

Principles of effective assessment

Effective assessment should:

• improve student learning, enhance student motivation and promote learner self-reliance and self-reflection
• address individual learning needs and styles using multiple measures
• have a direct impact on instruction
• indicate that not everything we teach needs to be assessed
• be valid, reliable and efficient
• be fair and ethical
• be rooted in authentic contexts that apply to knowledge and skills outside of the classroom
• be aligned with and measure student learning according to the standards in the written curriculum

Purposes of assessment

The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning. Assessment affects all constituencies within the school community.

Assessment provides students with:

• an understanding of their own progress and the opportunity to reflect on and to improve their learning strategies
• the opportunity to demonstrate what they understand
• an understanding of learning goals and the criteria for progress and success
• self-assessment skills that they can use beyond the classroom
• the opportunity to build confidence and self-esteem by acknowledging their successes
• the motivation to set and achieve realistic goals

Assessment provides parents/guardians with:

• accurate and timely information on a student's strengths, weaknesses and progress
• data needed to discuss an individual learning plan with realistic goals

Assessment enables teachers to:

• monitor students' growth and understanding
• communicate expectations for student learning
• adapt curriculum and instruction to the learning needs of the students
• inform parents/guardians and students about student progress in an effective, comprehensive manner

Assessment enables school administration to:

• provide data for effective curricular evaluation, revision and program improvements
• provide the data necessary for admissions and grade/year placement decisions
• provide the opportunity to place students effectively within a learning continuum
• evaluate and provide feedback to teachers
• evaluate student/school performance in comparison with other international and independent schools
• demonstrate to the broader community the extent to which the curriculum is producing the desired results and fulfilling the mission of the School.