24/05/2022
Assessment: Assessment for the Joy of Learning
Are examinations still valid and important in today’s Industry 4.0 's study, work and social environments?
Of course, the diplomatic response is yes. Yet, it is well known that many questions have been asked and the matter is also frequently discussed openly. Assessment is necessarily for many reasons, but what is more important to the learners (in school, it is the children) is how they are prepared for assessment than the end results of the assessment itself.
A well-prepared candidate for the examination (meaning a learner who is holistically and positively prepared – confident, competent, with manageable stress and anxiety) is probably what teachers and school leaders will want their students to become. The same expectations for parents and society, although the public would have a wider range of opinions and perceptions of assessment. It would be good if our children are well prepared for any assessment experience in life. Be it in school or public examinations, or in assessment-related events in life, like a job or scholarship interview, or even meeting and making lifelong friends and social acquaintances.
For parents, teachers and all adults concerned about our children's well-being, it would be satisfying to know our children are knowledgeable (as in being habitual lifelong learners), streetwise (able to discern logically and act realistically on what they should or should not do or accept in life) and competent (holistically, as in maintaining a healthy work-life balance and contributing to the well-being of themselves and close ones, and also to the community and the environment).
Achieving this balance, may not be entirely possible (given the various factors mentioned in an earlier post) but to work towards achieving that balance is a positive direction to take for all of us.
We do owe it to the next generation to help them face the future challenges, because they will be the ones looking after us. Let’s start preparing them.
