Assessment and

Evaluation
How do I know if learning has taken place?
Specific objectives

At the end of the lesson, students will be able

to :
 Explain at least four types of formal

assessment suitable for social studies

instruction after discussion.
Discuss three reasons for assessment in the
social studies classroom orally.
Differentiate clearly between assessment and
evaluation through the construction of a
comparative chart.
Definition
 According to McMillan, J. (2000),
 Classroom assessment can be defined as the
collection, evaluation and use of information to
help teachers make better decisions.
 Linn, R. &Gronlund, N.(2000) state that
assessment is as a general term that includes the
full range of procedures used to gain information
for a value judgement concerning the learning
process.
 “Assessments are the many ways we use to check
whether students have achieved certain objectives
of instruction.” Chaplin, J. (2007).
The purpose of assessment

Classroom assessment can be

seen in the following ways
according to McMillan, J. (2000)

Why am I doing this

assessment? ( purpose)
purpose
 Assess the knowledge, skill and attitudes that
are related to the goals of instruction.
 To give an appreciation of whether the students
understood the lesson.
 To provide feed back to students, teachers and
Parents.
 To provide diagnostic feedback
 To monitor and document students’ work so as
to make a judgement.
 To evaluate progress.
 To motivate performance.
Purpose-
What techniques should I use to gather the
information?
• -measurement

How will I interpret the results ?

evaluation

How will I use the results?

• Use
Types of formal of assessment
 Teacher observation of students
 Portfolios
 journals
 Paper and pencil ; objective and subjective exams
 Oral testing
 Individual projects
 Presentations
 Interviews
 Essays
 Observation
 Class assignments
 Homework
 portfolios
 Portfolios are a form of long term performance
assessment that contain a collection of students
work. As students assemble and review their
portfolios ,they should evaluate their work by
commenting on the value of the piece and how
their work shows progress. Teacher corrected
tests and assignments can also be included.
 One of the disadvantages is that it is time
consuming, and there are heavy demands on
the teacher to evaluate the portfolios.
 What are the advantages?
journals
 A reflective tool for the classroom or as a
learner’s tool
 Purpose
 Students can become actively engaged in the

learning process. They can clarify and reflect

upon their thinking;
 They can record ideas and feelings and

special words of appreciation

journals
 Students can write about their challenges in
the subject.
 Teachers can use students’ journal writing

and help them to develop them into final

pieces.
Peer assessment
 A way of using students to comment on and
judge their colleagues work. It can be used
for formative and summative assessment.
However it may not be suitable for all levels.
Students must have a clear understanding of
what they are looking for.
 Suitable for small group work activities, oral

presentations and role-plays.

observations
 The teacher can use observation to assess
students’ participation in a lesson, role-play
activities, seat work, group work and out of
class activities.
 The teacher needs to indicate the specific

behaviour that she needs to asses using a

checklist.
Paper and pencil tests
 Commonly used in social studies because of
their coverage of a lot of information.
 They include multiple choice, matching,

true/False ,short answers, essays and written

reports
 Forms of Assessment
Authentic assessment means connected to real life
problems and concerns. They are real instances of
learning such as preparing a meal,
or creating a veg. garden or enacting a scenario.

Performance assessment can be used to a tap multiple

sources of information to determine what students have
learned. Students create or produce something or perform
a task in performance assessment. It is also called
alternative assessment or authentic assessment
 Eg debate, write editorials, role play, create a

model ,create an illustration, dance, do a demonstration

etc.
Think , Pair ,Share
 What do you think are the pros and cons of
performance assessment?
Problems associated with authentic
assessment
 Students who have gained success at
memorizing find authentic assessment
intimidating.
 May be subjected to teacher bias.
 There may be no clear standards
 Required planning time and resources may

not be available
Pros of performance assessment
 Provides a way of observing application of
procedures
 Simulate real world tasks
 Encourages collaboration and communication

among learners.
 Students can assess their own learning and

therefore can take greater responsibility for

their learning.
Formative and summative
assessment
 Formative assessment
 Assessment conducted during and throughout the
process of instruction, teaching and learning. It
ascertains how well students engage in a lesson, and
how well students are accomplishing the objectives to
which they are working. It provides feedback for the
student and the teacher.
 Summative instruction occurs after or subsequent to
instruction ,teaching and learning
 -at the end of a unit or part of the curriculum.
 It is assessment which occurs at particular point in time
in regards to where a student stands to a type of
standard
Formal and informal assessment
 Formal assessment is systematically planned.
It may include quizzes, tests, essays and
projects.

 Informal assessment occurs when the teacher

collects information for the purpose of
shaping ongoing instruction. They result from
teachers day to day observation of how
students perform and behave. It can give
insight into the students abilities outside of
thee formal setting.
Evaluation
 The evaluation depends on assessment.
Evaluation is the process of interpreting the
evidence collected through assessment and
making judgements and decisions based on
the assessment (Finkelstein,1991)
 Evaluation is the way by which both qualitative
and quantitative data are processed to arrive
at a judgement of value, merit, worth or
effectiveness.
 One way of communicating evaluation of
students is by a grade or proficiency level.
Activity
 Construct a chart to show three differences
between assessment and evaluation.
Class Assessment
 What was one thing that was clear to you
from the lesson?
 What was on aspect you are still unsure

about?
 Suggest one way you can address the second

issue.
summary
 Assessment and evaluation are important
components of teaching.
 Students need feedback so that they know

their strengths and weaknesses.

 Assessment can also help teachers to

evaluate and refine their teaching.

Bibliography
 Chaplin,J. R (2007). A practical guide to
middle and secondary social studies . New
York: Pearson Ed. Inc.
 Sunal, C. & Haas,M. (2008).Social Studies for

the Elementary and Middle Grades- A

constructivist Approach. USA: Pearson Ed. Inc.