There are many different types of assessment strategies that can be used in a classroom or business environment to evaluate how well new information has been learned or assimilated. One of the most common strategies involves the use of pre-testing and post-testing to determine what information may have been learned based on comparisons between the two tests. Ongoing review and assessment can also be used to determine where strengths and weaknesses for students may lie as lessons are planned and presented. Different strategies can also utilize different types of tests implemented by an instructor, including multiple choice and short answer test questions.
Assessment strategies refer to ways in which an instructor, such as a classroom teacher or trainer at a business, can evaluate how well students are learning materials presented to them. Many different types of assessment strategies have been developed and used by various educators, and most teachers find methods of assessment that work best for them. In classrooms, however, many teachers are somewhat limited in what strategies they can use, often based on standards and requirements set by local school districts.
One of the most popular strategies consists of the use of pre-testing and post-testing to evaluate improvements in student performance or understanding. Prior to any lessons in a particular subject area, students are given a test regarding the information they are going to be presented with. Once the lessons have been taught and the material should have been learned by students, then they are given the same test or a test with similar questions. The instructor can then compare the tests to evaluate increases in scores based on new understanding by students.
Effective assessment strategies can also utilize ongoing assessment of students. This means that as lessons are being presented, students are quizzed and tested to evaluate how well they are learning in real time. Such assessment allows teachers to make alterations to lessons and focus on areas that numerous students may be having trouble learning.
The types of tests and quizzes used in various assessments can also have an impact on such strategies. A teacher who uses multiple choice tests, for example, might find it difficult to evaluate how well students understand complex concepts. Short answer tests can often be used to better evaluate such understanding, but may require more time or have a more limited scope than multiple choice tests. Effective assessment strategies often combine different types of testing to evaluate both the depth and breadth of student learning.