The Future of Assessments

Sridhar Rajagopalan
New Delhi | February 2010
Agenda

•The Last 10 Years

•
•Indian Education and EI –
Shifting to the Next Gear
•
•The Next 10 Years

Key strides have been taken in the last 10

years. But these will pale in comparison to
what the next 10 will hold and this applies both
to the Indian Education System and to EI!

•
The Last 10 Years
What we set out to do in 2001…
From a July 2001 note when EI started

“What we need (and don’t have) are people who study and
understand education thoroughly. Why is this a problem?
Education is more than computers, teaching by rote, and
importing some modern teaching ideas from abroad. How much
systematic effort have we made as a nation (or have school
groups made) to develop effective teaching aids, curriculum or
teaching ideas, worksheets, areas of known difficulty for
teachers or students, standardized tests, quality standards,
methods of teaching Indian languages, etc.? On the other
hand, such a body of knowledge / experience is developed in
almost all other fields, be it building construction, tailoring or
communications technology.“
Interesting
things we
have been
able to do

2001
Interesting LEARNING
things we
have been STANDARDS
able to do
A systematic study of the
standards across 5 subjects in 10
2003 different countries and states. This
research also formed the basis of
ASSET development and analysis
Interesting LARGE SCALE
things we GOVERNMENT SCHOOL
have been
able to do STUDIES
These studies showed extremely low
2005 learning levels but also diagnosed the
specific causes and reasons
Interesting CHECKING THE QUALITY
things we OF LEARNING IN OUR
have been
able to do
TOP SCHOOLS
This study brought the issue of Rote

2006 Learning clearly in the National

Agenda and many steps were initiated
at the level of schools and also at the
Board / government level.
Interesting BHUTAN
things we
have been 5-year comprehensive improvement
able to do project

2007
Interesting NATIONAL
things we
have been BENCHMARKING
able to do (Govt. schools)
Covering 19 states and Union Territories,

2008 this study focused on system-wide

strengths and weaknesses and has been
followed by customised workshops to 10
states
Interesting An ICT-based
things we
have been
adaptive learning
able to do system that allows
children to learn at
2009 their own pace
Interesting Large Govt. School
things we projects focusing on
have been using assessment for
able to do
Municipal Corporation
improvement

2010
of Greater Mumbai
There is always
A Gradual a beautiful
Shift from
answer to who
Assessment andasks a more
Analysis to
beautiful
Supporting question.
Teachers
Teacher
Sheets
 Click to edit Master title style

•Click to edit Master text styles

–Second level
•Third level
Test –Fourth level
»Fifth level
Generator

02/09/2011 15
 ASSET-
Question-
a-Day

02/09/2011 16
Misconception
Videos
Meanwhile There is always a beautiful
answer to
Important Education who asks
Landmarks a more
were Set
beautiful question.
Not that these 2004: Educational Cess
have all been
well-thought 2005: National Curriculum
through or
Framework
implemented,
indeed almost
the opposite! 2009: Optional Class X Boards |
But the trends Continuous and Comprehensive
are clear. Also Evaluation
more
companies and 2010: Right to Education Act |
more resources
are now in
India participates in PISA
education than Some States Seek
every before Independent External
Assessments

2011: Board Exam Reform Project

(Gujarat)
India Education and EI –
Shifting to the Next Gear
 EI’s Earlier Theory of Change

A lot has been

Assessment-led reform
achieved! Assessment FOR learning TRANSFORMATION
IS ACHIEVED
Tipping Point
Few – either in
government or “INFESTATION”

private schools Stakehold

Discussion
results in
- defend rote Data Starts
ers* start
looking at
Specific action Parameters
•Policy Change
Getting
learning today •Body of knowledge
the data •Improvement in Learning
generated
Data-based •Wider pedagogical tools
and concrete Engagement & decision making
Holding up
actions are a mirror
involvement
Stage of greater and
being taken to Stage of discomfort Stage of discussion
Stage of trials and
limited acceptance
large scale acceptance

systemically
move away Enabling Circumstances** (development of support series and experience)

from rote to Time ( Mindset change)

learning with
* Stakeholders : researchers, government / policy-makers, schools (principals / teachers), parents
understanding ** Simple and clear analysis – availability of “doctors” (consultants who can give remedies based on diagnosis)
 Click to edit Master title style

•Click to edit MasterEI’s Current

text styles Theory of Change
–Second level
•Third level

Goal
With –Fourth level Every Student
Consensus on »Fifth level
Learning with Understanding
the Goal…
…the focus for
the next 10
years will be on Adaptive
Individualised, self-paced
Diagnostic
Topic-wise
Student Assessment
but DetailedStudent
Remedial Feedback
Actions

HOW we can Student Learning

achieve Every Learning
Child, Learning
with
Understanding
Continuous Teacher Support
Base

Education-based Technology Support

Research/Data on Student Learning of Various Concepts

02/09/2011 22
EI has
transitioned …

…from a pure
assessment
company to an
assessment
and learning
company at a
time when
learning itself
has become …clearly retaining
assessment- and building on its
centred… core strength and
focus
 There is always
Why is ‘Understanding a Deeply’
Learning beautiful
answer
Important for to who
EI / Schools asks a more
/ Teachers?
beautiful question.
A common
Misconception

Why does the

problem
arise?
 Click to edit Master title style
A not-so-carefully developed ‘animation’
•Click to edit Master text styles
–Second level
•Third level
Simply using –Fourth level
»Fifth level
Technology
is not the
solution –
can we see
why?

02/09/2011 26
 A pedagogically more sound exercise that
illustrates the key concept of ‘angle as a turn’

The
technology
has to be
based on
strong
pedagogical
principles
The next 10 years
Globalisation, The Nature of Society will Change
Technology
and Economic The nature of work
Progress will
cause rapid The nature of the learner
changes in the
next 10 years Freedom, space and choice

Adapt to the ever changing World

Participating Innovation will determine National
for the first Success, Prosperity and Happiness
time in PISA,
an
international International Benchmarking
benchmarking
study, Learning with Understanding
Shanghai
(China) ranked High Quality Research
1st , beating the
traditional
‘bests’ like
Collaboration
Finland and
Singapore Continuous Improvement

The seeds for these will have to be

sown in our schools
Assessment- The nature of Assessment will change
centred
Assessment OF Learning
Learning
or
Assessment FOR Learning
Learning-
centred
Assessment IS Learning
Assessment

CCE is but a small part of this

The nature of Learning will change

Personalised Learning
 What is Personalised about Personalised
Learning?
Personalised Pace of Learning
Learning is Style of Learning
much more
than Topic / Subject of Learning
Technology. Order and Depth of topic /
But it cannot
really be
subject Learning
achieved Timing of Assessment of
without Learning
technology
either Learning Methods and Media
Emotional Support
Some
Examples of
Personalised
Learning
from
Mindspark
Mindspark
Impact on
different
ability
groups
 The role of the Teacher will Change

Personalised Facilitator
Learning Study Individual progress more
increases the
role and Connect to experts
importance of
Effective
Focus on social skills
Teachers Focus more on appropriate activities
Focus more on weak students
 Teacher professional development through
Teacher Mindspark

Personalised Content
Learning for Questions on Students Misconceptions
Teachers
Student Videos
Lesson plans
Videos of good lessons
Access to Research Articles
Science of Learning

Understanding How Children Learn

Lists of Student Misconceptions

Inter-disciplinary field

Like a BA in Economics, students

can gain a BA in SoL (?)

Science of Learning Centre

Strong Focus Research and Training

EI Plans for next 10 years

•Mindspark , ASSET and Detailed

Assessment
•More Intelligent ‘ Mindspark ’
•Science of Learning
•Lecture Tours from International
Speakers
•International conference on
Learning
•Mindspark Language ( rural )
•Teacher Mindspark
•Strong Focus on Partnerships
•
‘There is always a
beautiful answer to
who asks a more
beautiful question.’
Thank You
Educational Initiatives
613-615, J.B. Towers,
Opp.Doordarshan, Drive-In Road,
Ahmedabad 380054. Gujarat.
INDIA.
Phone: +91-79-40269696.
Fax: +91-79-26841400

www.ei-india.com