Assessments! Helpful or blind or both?!
The class on assessments really got me thinking about what it will be like during my long term practicum and how on earth am I going to assess the kids!!!
During class the group gave students and activity for the students to do. One was to write a ridiculously hard test and the other was discussion based with others at our table and unknown to us the group leaders would walk around and “assess” how we were performing in class. The test turned out to be fun since we understood there was no pressure behind it. I think it was evident from Kathy’s drawing of a cat to answer the last question. It was the second activity that sparked my interest. During the activity a group member walked by and assessed a fellow classmate while I had just finished contributing what I had believed to be valuable insight to the discussion. However, another table member began with, “I believe,” and then was assessed with a contributes well to the group! To be honest I felt slighted after I had just said my piece. Others felt this way too. Ren had been assessed with something along the lines of “not talking about the topic”, which to her seemed like a very unfair assessment. The group explained that this was just one method and it is easy for a teacher to assess incorrectly if they happen to just walk by at the one moment of fault by the student.
Because of this activity it got me thinking about how do I assess kids in drama. I have been a firm believer that, especially in lower grades in high school, it is more important about the process rather than the final product. Some teenagers can work brilliantly when other are working around them and the focus isn’t directed on one person. When a student has to do their final performance they may develop a little bit of stage fright. With that said I believe that it is very important to observe closely how students work on their performances before they present. But how do I do this and not assess incorrectly? Hypothetically with 30 students in a class and working on 2 people scenes how do I make sure that I have assessed these kids correctly and not judge them possibly by one incident? There are the obvious examples if students aren’t focussed if they are talking with other groups or trying to sneak a look at their phones but what if I walk by and a student is telling a story that actually helps to relate back to their scene? A drama class can be like organized chaos and sometimes I just have to accept it!
This class has taught me to properly assess I can’t just walk around the class monitoring and dropping my ear in to groups every so often but really engage with the groups as they work and constantly ask questions to see if they are progressing and them let them continue.