Discussion Forum 7 MICHELLE MENDY
(1) How do you currently use assessment data in your school, not just for reporting, but to improve teaching and support learners who may be falling behind?
Ans: As a school leader, I use assessment data to monitor progress, track students' progress and success, and address some of their weak areas. I also identify data to look at certain areas that help where students are struggling with all the subjects.
(II) Evaluate: Assess the effectiveness of one-to-one interventions in my school that were done, and decisions can be improved to support learners who may be falling behind. We intervene early and give them support to be able to improve, and I am also tracking their progress.
(2) Can you recall a time when an assessment strategy either unlocked learning or created a challenge? What leadership decisions shaped that outcome?
One of the things that comes to my mind is when our Catholic education secretariat introduced and implemented a competency-based assessment in all schools. We shifted from doing term 3 exams to now focusing on students’ performance on monthly tests and the two-term assessment. Students’ demonstration of specific skills and knowledge unlocks learning; students are able to take ownership of their learning and are able to work on their own.
Teachers also were able to get more feedback from students were able to address some
of the weak areas students are struggling with. The leadership decision shaped the
in terms of clear communication and making sure that everyone was on board. We make sure that we monitor and evaluate regularly and get feedback from teachers and students to make improvements where necessary. Some of the challenges we faced were
those students still struggling with the baseline assessment competency approve
The overall leadership decision we maenad helped me to create more support and
were able to take ownership of their learning.
What steps can you take to foster a school-wide culture of reflective assessment, where feedback, collaboration, and inclusion guide instructional decisions?
To foster a school-wide culture of reflective assessment, consider the following.
(a) I make sure that I establish a school vision that develops a common reflective assessment
(b) I will also encourage feedbackfor students, staff, and teachers to be comfortable sharing concerns and feedback, monitor and adjust, review regularly, and ensure that it is aligned with the school vision and goals. To ensure feedback, collaboration, and inclusiveness guide instructional decisions, create effective instructional strategies, collaborate with and see to provide us with resources and structure opportunities for feedback from students and teachers, and also emphasize inclusiveness, making sure that all voices are heard and valued in the decision-making. By taking these steps, I can create a culture of reflective assessment that values feedback, collaboration, and inclusion in the instructional process and improve student success.
True leadership can help reduce assessment anxiety among learners and teachers, especially in high-stakes environments like Grade 9 exams.
Leadership can help reduce assessment anxiety among learners and teachers in several ways:
a) Communication to clearly explain the purpose and the benefits of the assessment.
b) Focus on the learning, not on taking away time or moving on.
c) Use rubrics and learning progress; always celebrate progress that is recognizable and celebrate the student’s process.
d) Providing the right learning resources helpsthe students and manages stress and anxiety.
Also involved stakeholders, maybe teachers and students, in discussions about the assessment. By taking these steps, it creates a more supportive, inclusive assessment.
Are there digital tools or staff systems you have used (or would like to use) to make assessments more fair, flexible, and learner-friendly, especially in rural or under-resourced schools?
In my school there are no digital tools or staff systems that teachers have or would like to use; they only have a preloaded device, i.e., a laptop or mobile, that I load with some educational content. This is the only thing that helps. Teachers are supported by technical support to provide teachers with assistants using the platforms to ensure effective integration into their teaching practice. Additional strategies: To collaborate with the RED and CES to provide us with resources and structures.