Module 4: Roles of Assessment in Making Instructional Decisions

SUBJECT CODE PED 6 SEMESTER 1st WEEK 3 DATE ___________________________

dd/mm/yyyy

COURSE NAME Assessment of Learning 1

At the end of this module, the students must have:

DESIRED LEARNING 2.1 Defined the roles of assessment for placement, formative, diagnostic, and
OUTCOME summative purposes in making instructional decision.
2.2. Discussed the roles of assessment in making instructional decision.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS: This module is composed of three parts. Read and understand the
specific directions in each part and answer the activities and guide questions provided. Do not
write anything on this material. Write your answers on the Activity and Assessment Sheets
provided separately.

UNDERSTAND
Directions: Read and understand the texts below then answer the pivotal questions provided.

Roles of Assessment in Making Instructional Decisions

Assessment can be defined as a systematic process of measuring the progress of the students
that involves gathering of data to gain better understanding of students’ learning strengths and
weaknesses (https://www.queensu.ca/teachingandlearning/modules/assessments/04_s1_01_intro_section.html).
This definition clearly describes the instructional purpose of assessment itself. Assessment as used
in teaching provides information pertaining to the extent of students’ learning which can be used as
reference to make informed decisions to enhance instruction that will suit the individual needs of
the students. Similarly, Jones and Bartlett (n.d.) claimed that assessment provides valid and reliable
information about the achievement of the students and the effectiveness of all instructional
activities including but not limited to the teaching strategies and materials used by the teacher. He
also described assessment as a process of collecting and interpreting information to make decisions
that will help improve students’ achievement and enhance the quality of instruction. In relation to
this, Groepl (n.d. ) explained the importance of providing pre and post-test assessments to assess
how much learning that students have gained after going through the different instructional and
learning experiences.

Moreover, Evan (2005) claimed that the traditional purpose summative assessment is used
to evaluate the achievement of students at the end of instruction. The evaluation includes
classifying and ranking students based on the result of assessment. However, this is opposed by
Liljedahl (2010) who presented a powerful argument explaining that assessment should not be used
for ranking of students. He added that assessment should be used for students to communicate
their leaning to teachers and for teachers to communicate back to students of their progress and
learnings; it is used to evaluate students achievement and evaluate the effectiveness of instruction;
provide report of the quality of instruction as reflected by students acjevement to all stakeholders
concerned. On the other hand, Evan also explained that the contemporary purpose of assessment is
focused on placing emphasis on formative assessment which is used to advance students’ learning
by providing teachers with information regarding the weaknesses of students to help improve
instruction. The use of assessment data can help improve instruction from planning stage to
implementation in which the teacher can decide the best instructional activities and materials that
be used to adapt to students’ learning needs.

Assessment data can be used in different purposes. Placement assessment can be used to
make instructional decisions by determining students performance at the beginning of instruction
while formative assessment is used to monitor students performance in the course of
instruction(https://www.academia.edu/8097329/Role_of_Assessment_in_Instructional_Decisions_Ways_How_Assess
ment_Enhance_Instruction_1_Instructional_Placement_Decisions_2_Formative_Evaluation_Decisions_3_Diagnostic_De
cisions_Seven_Criteria_for_Assessment_Other_Methods_of_Linking_Assessment_to_Instructions). On the other
hand, Diganostic assessment is usually given before instruction and helps to determine styudents’
learning progress and summative assesment is used to determine students’ achievement at the end
of instruction (https://www.academia.edu/33846130/Roles_of_assessment_in_making_instructional_decisions_1_).

According to Banks (2020), a placement assessment is given to students to determine

proficiency of knowledge on a specific subject for the purpose of classification. The purpose of
placement testing is to determine students’ current level of skills and knowledge in specific subject
like writing, math, science and the data obtained in placement test determines the most
appropriate course and learning experiences suitable to the knowledge and skills of the
students(https://www.lonestar.edu/departments/academicaffairsstusuccess/Preparing-for-the-Placement-
Test.pdf).

The Glossary of Education Reform (2014) provided a comprehensive information explaining

formative assessment. It explains that formative assessment is given as the teacher proceeds with
the lesson. The teacher may use different assessment methods to determine students
comprehension and learning progress during the course of teaching. Examples of formative test
includes quizes, reviews, practice test and end of chapter questions. Through the use of formative
assessment, teachers can easiliy determine problematic areas in instruction which can be used to
adjust teaching to students’ needs as they progress in the lesson. Formative assessments are face
with some serios drawbacks. First, it is not standardized and it may given the students within the
discretion of the teacher. Second, it consumes too much time by proving many test during the
course which could have been used for instruction. Thid, it increases teachers’ workload by doing
formative assessments quickly to adapat to the needs of the
student(shttps://www.viewsonic.com/library/education/educational-assessment-tools-summative-formative/).

Diagnostic assessment is a pretest that is usually given in a multiple choice format to

determine what the students know about the topic before it will be taught to them (Tookoian,
2018). Diagnostic Assessment is the type of test given to students before instruction to determine
their prior knowledge and level of knowledge and skills of the lesson topic. Alderson (2005) as cited
in Jang and Wagner (2018) definition of diagnostic assessment summarizes its purpose and use.
They explained that diagnostic assessment is helpful to determine students level of learning on a
particular topic and possible area where instruction can be focused. He explained that diagnostic
assessment should provide feedback which can be acted upon to address the areas of learning that
needs to ne improved.

A summative assesment is an evaluation at the end of instruction. This is generally conducted

to determine if students have met the teaching standards set the by the teacher or
school(https://www.viewsonic.com/library/education/educational-assessment-tools-summative-formative/).
The different forms of summative assessment includes midterm examination, final examination,
periodic examination, term paper and standardized tests. These forms of summative assessments
are used at the end of a lesson unit, course, semester, cetain grading period, program or school
year. Summative assessment is beneficial bacause of the follwing reasons: it can be used and
reused for any number of students; it can be given to all students at the same time and results can
be used to compare performance of students and even other group of students. However,
summative assessment also have the following limitations: teachers do not have data to adjust to
students’ learning needs as they progress in the lesson and data needed to improve instruction is
not available until the test is given at the end of instruction.
Pivotal question : What is the significance of knowing the role of assessment in
instruction?

ents are encouraged to make their

own moral stand and be
responsible for their own actions.
PRACTICE
Now that you have learned the roles of assessment in making instructional decisions, let us test your
understanding through the practice activity provided below.

I. Understanding Check
Directions: Based on your readings, answer the following questions comprehensively.

1. There is an argument on the use of assessment as to whether it can be used for ranking
students or not. What is your stand on this and why?
2. How will assessment contribute to the improvement of instruction?
3. What are the roles of assessment in the teaching and learning process? Give at least three.

II. Synthesizing
Directions: Using the table below, summarize the concepts that you have learned about the
different forms of assessments as to when it is applicable to use, its examples, strengths and
weaknesses.
TYPE OF WHEN TO EXAMPLES STRENGTH WEAKNESS/LIMITATIONS
ASSESSMENT USE (Give 2
examples)

Placement

Formative

Diagnostic

Summative

TRY
Good Job for accomplishing the given practice activity! Now, let us deepen your learning by
answering the questions below.

Directions: Encircle the letter of the best answer.

1. Teacher A explains different facts about a certain 6. Which of the following is NOT an example
topic in biology. To test students’ understanding, of formative test?
the teacher provided a pop quiz before the class ((a) pop quiz
moves on to the lesson. What kind of assessment is (b) practice test
done by Teacher A? (c) periodic test
(a) placement (d) review questions
(b) formative
(c) diagnostic 7. Teacher C provided her students with a
(d) summative test before the start of the lesson to
determine students’ prior knowledge about
2. Teacher B explains different physics concepts to
the students and provided examples and practice
activities. At the end of the lesson unit, she feels
that her students have good understanding of the
concepts covered and she provided an assessment
to measure students learning. What kind of
assessment is done by Teacher B in this case?
(a) placement
(b) formative
(c) diagnostic
(d) summative
3. What is the primary purpose of assessment?
Assessment aims to _________
(a) improve instructional strategies
(b) develop quality instructional materials
(c) improve students’ learning
(d) All of the above
the topic on the properties of matter. What
kind of assessment is performed by Teacher
C?
((a) placement
(b) formative
(c) diagnostic
(d) summative
8. What is the main purpose of summative
assessment? To determine ________
((a) students’ strengths and weaknesses.
(b) students’ prior knowledge and level of
skills about the topic.
(c) if students’ have met the set learning
standards for the subject.
(d) if the teacher needs to adjust his lesson
pacing and teaching strategies to student’s
needs.

4. Which of the following form of assessment can be 9. A final examination is an example of what
used to determine the effectiveness of instructional form of assessment?
strategies used in teaching? (a) placement
((a) placement (b) formative
(b) formative (c) diagnostic
(c) diagnostic (d) summative
(d) summative

5. What form of assessment is used to determine 10. Teacher D provided a test in English
the learning progress of the students during comprehension which will be used to classify
instruction? students who will be enrolled in the school
((a) placement English Comprehension Program (ECP) for
(b) formative Grade 4 pupils. What form of assessment is
(c) diagnostic conducted by Teacher D?
(d) summative ((a) placement
(b) formative
(c) diagnostic
(d) summative

Reminder: After answering the activities and questions provided in this module, turn in this
module to your subject facilitator together with the attached Activity and Assessment
Sheets then request for the next module.
References 1. Banks, K. (2020). What is a Placement Test? Retrieved August 17,
2020, from https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-placement-
test.htm#
2. Evan, R. (2005). Using Assessment to Inform Instructional decisions:
How hard can it be? Retrieved August 12, 2020, from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251416665_Using_assess
ment_to_inform_instructional_decisions_How_hard_can_it_be
3. Groepl, J. (n.d.). The Role of Assessment in Teaching and Learning.
Retrieved August 16, 2020, from
https://www.theclassroom.com/understanding-reliability-validity-
qualitative-research-4169.html
4. How to effectively use educational assessment tools? (n.d.). Retrieved
August 16, 2020, from
https://www.viewsonic.com/library/education/educational-
assessment-tools-summative-formative/
5. Jang, E., & Wagner, M. (2018). Diagnostic Feedback in the Classroom.
Retrieved August 14, 2020, from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316148528_Diagnostic_Fe
edback_in_the_Classroom/link/5ac3089445851584fa7742f9/downloa
d
6. Jones, & bartlett. (n.d.). The rolr of assessment in instruction.
Retrieved August 13, 2020, from
http://samples.jbpub.com/9781449687670/9781449687670_CH01_V
1XX.pdf
7. Liljedahl, P. (2010). The four purposes of Assessment. Retrieved
August 15, 2020, from http://peterliljedahl.com/wp-
content/uploads/Four-Purposes-of-Assessment1.pdf
8. Preparing for Placement Test. (n.d.). Retrieved August 16, 2020, from
https://www.lonestar.edu/departments/academicaffairsstusuccess/Pr
eparing-for-the-Placement-Test.pdf
9. Role of Assessment in Instructional Decisions Ways How Assessment
Enhance Instruction 1. Instructional Placement Decisions. 2. Formative
Evaluation Decisions. 3. Diagnostic Decisions Seven Criteria for
Assessment Other Methods of Linking Assessment to Ins. (n.d.).
Retrieved from
https://www.academia.edu/8097329/Role_of_Assessment_in_Instruc
 tional_Decisions_Ways_How_Assessment_Enhance_Instruction_1_Ins
tructional_Placement_Decisions_2_Formative_Evaluation_Decisions_
3_Diagnostic_Decisions_Seven_Criteria_for_Assessment_Other_Meth
ods_
10. Understanding the roles of assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15,
2020, from
https://www.queensu.ca/teachingandlearning/modules/assessments/
04_s1_01_intro_section.html
11. Reform, T. G. (2014). Formative Assessment. Retrieved August 16,
2020, from https://www.edglossary.org/formative-assessment/
12. Roles of Assessmment in Making Instructional Decisions . (n.d.).
Retrieved August 13, 2020, from
https://www.academia.edu/33846130/Roles_of_assessment_in_maki
ng_instructional_decisions_1_
13. Tookoian, J. (2018). What is a diagnostic assessment? Retrieved
August 14, 2020, from https://edulastic.com/blog/diagnostic-
assessment/