Differences Between Andragogy and Pedagogy

 

The Evaluation and its Importance

Written by: Julio La Roche

The evaluation process is part of our daily lives. We have the habit of constantly evaluating ourselves to

know if our decisions are right or wrong. It is a natural process that takes place in our minds because we want to grow as human beings. In fact, we don’t want to make the same mistakes over and over again. It is a normal mental process, and it is used in many fields.

The purpose of this blog is to cover the main evaluation concepts and its importance in the field of education.

 

Definition of Evaluation:

Several education specialists have presented their own evaluation definitions. However, I personally think that the Gronlund and Linn explanation encompasses the most important aspects of this term.   

According to Gronlund and Linn, “Evaluation is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting information to determine the extent to which pupils are achieving instructional objectives.”

The Characteristic of Evaluation:

Evaluation suggests a systematic process that avoid the casual uncontrolled observation of students. It is a continuous procedure in which the teaching- learning process and the evaluation process, go together. Evaluation comprises not only subject-matter accomplishments but also self-growth and social adaptability.

It is important to highlight that the educational objectives and students’ needs have to be previously recognized before designing an evaluation program. It is a step-by-step process in which the evaluation tools need to determine whether the learning objectives are being achieved by the students successfully.

Functions of Evaluation:

Evaluation is an essential element in the teaching learning process. It provides data that is used to make important educational decisions. For example, a placement evaluation can determine the starting point of a group of students regarding a specific subject-matter. In addition, a formative evaluation can be used to monitor the learning process and make the adjustments needed to fulfill the learning goals effectively.

Types and functions of evaluation:

Evaluation can be divided into two different categories: Formative and Summative.

Formative Evaluation is used to constantly observe the pupils learning progress in class. This category can be divided according to its function.

Diagnostic: It is used determine the suitable method or instructional materials helpful to learning.

Placement: It is used to find out the starting point of a student in the subject-matter in which he or she has to begin learning.

Monitoring: It is used to keep track of the learners’ progress and to make the necessary adjustments if needed.

Summative Evaluation is carried out at the end to make sure that the objectives previously established have been achieved. According to its function, it can be divided in:

Crediting: It is used to gather information that indicates that a student has achieved the goals in contents regarding a specific program.

Certifying: It provides evidence that the learner is able to perform a profession according to the standards in that field.

Promoting: It is used to determine if a person can be promoted to a higher level.

Selecting: It indicates a student can be chosen for a particular course after completion of a course.

Importance of Evaluation

Evaluation is a fundamental part of the teaching-learning process. It helps to design an educational program, evaluate its accomplishments and guarantee its success.   

For instance, it can be used to determine the most effective teaching method for a specific learning activity. It is a procedure that occurs continuously, since it is carried out before, during and after any educational program.

To conclude, evaluation provides vital feedback to teacher, students, parents, and the entire education system. For all the reasons, teachers need to be aware of its importance and how to use it correctly for the benefit of their students.

 

References:

Assessment & Evaluation, (2021). Universal Smart School. https://ugi.ac.in/uss/assessment-evaluation.php

Evaluation in Teaching and Learning Process, (2016). | Education. Your Article Library. https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/statistics-2/evaluation-in-teaching-and-learning-process-education/92476

 What is Evaluation in Education, (2021). Learn about Education and B.Sc. Physics. https://physicscatalyst.com/graduation/evaluation-in-education/