By acknowledging intrinsic links between assessment, evaluation, and reporting,

educators can get on with the process of education. People are different. They

vary in body size, shape, speed, strength and many other respects.

Measurement determines the degree form which an individual possesses a

defined characteristic. It involves first defining the characteristic to be

measured, and then selecting the instrument with which measured. Test scores

vary between being objective or subjective. A test is objective when two or

more people score the same test and assign similar scores. Tests that are most

objective are those that have a defined scoring system and are administered by

trained testers. A subjective test lacks a standardized scoring system, which

introduces a source of measurement error. We use objective measurements

whenever possible because they are more reliable than subjective

measurements. During the process of gathering information for effective

planning and instruction, the words measurement, assessment and evaluation

are often used interchangeably. These words, however, have significantly

different meanings. For me, the word measurement, as it applies to education, is

not substantially different from when it is used in any other field. It simply means

determining the attributes or dimensions of an object, skill or knowledge. We use

common objects in the physical world to measure, such as tape measures,

scales and meters. These measurement tools are held to standards and can be

used to obtain reliable results. When used properly, they accurately gather data

for educators and administrators. While assessment is one of the primary

measurement tools in education is the assessment. Teachers gather information

by giving tests, conducting interviews and monitoring behavior. The assessment

should be carefully prepared and administered to ensure its reliability and

validity. In other words, an assessment must provide consistent results and it must

measure what it claims to measure. On the other hand, evaluation is creating

valid and reliable assessments is critical to accurately measuring educational

data. Evaluating the information gathered, however, is equally important to the

effective use of the information for instruction. In education, evaluation is the

process of using the measurements gathered in the assessments. Teachers use

this information to judge the relationship between what was intended by the

instruction and what was learned. They evaluate the information gathered to

determine what students know and understand, how far they have progressed

and how fast, and how their scores and progress compare to those of other

students. The studies all reveal the need for educators to take the time to teach

students about their individual rights as well as their social responsibilities.

Students who have had the opportunity to learn about their societal

expectations as they are balanced against personal freedoms, are more likely

to attain a level of autonomous social development. Their teachers are less likely

to feel frustrated about student behavioral problems and more likely to

experience reduced levels of work-related stress. The studies also indicated that

when teachers provide students with a common language of civility, there is a

common ground for discussion, mediation, and reconciliation of many social

problems that typically develop in our classrooms today. The data generated in

these studies indicates that students who are taught to engage in civil discourse,

tend to use it to resolve conflicts peacefully, rather than resorting to verbal or

physical assaults. There is evidence in the studies that this approach to

classroom management is also effective in special needs classrooms. In fact,

when students are included in the evaluation process, they are more likely to be

self-motivated. Students who see the results of their work only on the quarterly or

semester report card or the high-stakes testing report are often discouraged or

deflated, knowing that the score is a permanent record of their past

achievement.