Essay About Classroom Assessment

1699 Words7 Pages

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Problem
Classroom assessment of students learning is an important component of any education system. The overall aim of assessment is to enhance attainment of educational objectives through meaningful learning. There is a global mistrust of paper and pencil based examination. This kind of assessment is however, criticised for its detrimental effects on students’ learning. Adams (1996) point out that paper and pencil particularly tests and examinations focus on irrelevant concepts that do not impact directly on students’ lives; they encourage superficial, rote learning and negligence of higher order thinking skills such as reasoning, problem solving and independent inquiry.
The use of alternative …show more content…

The aim of competency based education in Tanzania is to improve the quality of secondary education and to enable students acquire the competencies needed in the future professions, society and in the modern world. The curriculum review emphasises changes in teaching and assessment practices in order for learners to acquire competences (MoEVT, 2005). It also modified the ways assessment procedures have to be undertaken for meaningful learning. The 2005 biology syllabus is in line with a paradigm shift which emphasizes merging theory and practice. This aims at equipping school graduates with sufficient knowledge and life skills for their survival in the academic, social, and in the modern world. The revised curriculum emphasizes what the student at a particular level should be able to do in the world of work in the typical contexts (Kitta and Tilya, 2010). This encourages students to learn complex knowledge and problem solving skills needed for future success. For example policy makers believe that through new assessment system (alternative assessment) can motivate and monitor progress towards students’ attainment of those goals. It also encourages students to use prior knowledge and experience to acquire new knowledge and skills by cooperating with others as emphasized by the constructivist

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