The Importance of Classroom Assessment in 21st Century Learning

The fourth industrial revolution changed the dynamics of living: we see the convergence of physical, digital, and biological dimensions emerge, powered by new technologies and platforms that connect us in new ways. An era of limitless possibility and opportunity, the 21st century is seen not only as a time of rapid advancement in technology but also a period where continuous improvements for learning and knowledge sharing has become a primary concern. Teaching tools, assets, and content offerings and evaluation have undergone change and disruptions to raise the bar of excellence higher to comply with a globally competitive horizon.  

Last 2015, the Department of Education released a policy which sought to reinforce the importance of comprehensive methods of student assessment, a move which works to complement the then newly implemented K to 12 program. DepEd Order No. 8 mandated educational institutions to make classroom assessment an integral part of the curriculum. Assessment helps keep track of learners’ progress, induce self-reflection and personal accountability, as well as enhance profiling systems to help students learn better within a dynamic environment. The assessment of an individual learner´s performance is no longer limited to the academic portfolio but has since shifted to include an ongoing process of identification, gathering, organization, and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative sets of information. These new categories are designed to highlight how and what learners know, and more importantly, what they can do with it in practical, real-world situations.

With this, the mixing and matching of skills from thorough evaluation processes could be an answer to the growing demand of a more diversified audience, moving towards better customization and personalization of education. This integrated method is centered on the student not only as a learner but more so as a whole child, a dynamic person. 

TYPES OF CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT

In this framework, there are two levels of classroom assessment. First is formative assessment which is an in-process evaluation of students’ performance during a lesson, unit or course. This type of assessment helps educators identify the strengths and weaknesses of learners, which in turn is vital in improving lessons, modules, instructional techniques and academic support provided to improve a students’ learning experience.

The second level is called summative assessment. Usually provided after a unit or period of learning is completed, this next step helps describe the degree or standard reached by an individual learner after a certain period in the educational calendar. The results are recorded and used to report on the learner´s achievement, based on the rubrics followed by the institution´s program. These forms of evaluation aim to heighten the potential of every learner, guiding them to face the challenges of the real world by providing concrete measures or valuation for each learner´s unique learning capacities and cognitive processes.

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Quipper School Helps Raise NAT Scores

Quipper, an education technology company headquartered in London with offices in Manila, today announced that NAT scores at Valenzuela City Science High School have improved significantly as a result of using Quipper School in 2014, when compared to scores from the previous year.

Quipper School, an online education platform which connects teachers and students, was launched in January 2014 in the Philippines and is now being used by over 5,000 teachers across the country. Mr. Roderick Francisco, a teacher from Valenzuela Science City High School, used Quipper School in early 2014 to teach over 400 of his students in preparation for NAT 2014. As a result, Mr. Francisco has noted significant improvements, with an overall score improvements of 13%, and an outstanding result in English, where the scores rose by 25%.

Students from Valenzuela City Science High School use an online education platform, Quipper School to study and review topics from their subjects

Mr. Francisco is quoted as saying, 'We're extremely happy about the outcome. Quipper School offers a vast amount of K-12 aligned content, which students can access from wherever they want as long as they have internet connection. I assigned more than 500 questions to them, and most of my students have mastered them. I could also track those who hadn't done the assignment on Quipper School’s teacher portal, and gave timely reminders so that no one gets left behind.'

Mr. Francisco assigned Quipper School topics as part of 'clearance', meaning that students had to complete all their Quipper School assignments in order to get a report card.

Masayuki Watanabe, CEO of Quipper, stated, "We're proud that Quipper School has now become an integral part of teaching and learning for many classes. We'll keep improving our services so that Quipper School can empower students and teachers with digital technology".

Quipper School is also available in several other countries, including Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

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Access Financial Products at Lenddo

When financial needs arose in the past I used to always set as one of my options, using a credit card or getting a fast cash loan. But after experiencing some financial setbacks and eventually freedom from the control of lenders with the help of my reliable wife a.k.a finance manager, applying for a quick cash loan has become the least of my options during sudden financial emergencies.

But as a last resort, I would probably utilize the services of Lenddo.com which is like a social network-dependent site that gives anyone his or her credit score based on their online social network. Any person who signs up can increase his or her "Lenddo score" by providing access to your online profiles in Facebook, Yahoo, Google and LinkedIn. As the member builds his or her own Lenddo community, attends a class online about becoming financially responsible and successfully borrows from and repays Lenddo, his or her Lenddo score also increases, as well as the community he or she belongs to. Having a higher score gives the member more access to financial products such as student loans or business loans in the Philippines available at Lenddo but limited to the purposes of home improvement, education, medical emergencies and career-based relocation.

Aside from having a high Lenddo score, what a member actually needs to have are a job, SSS number, a TIN, the right purpose for the loan without any collateral except their online reputation. This kind of service is first of its kind and because it is unique, I think it will catch the interest of many. Most loan service sites do not operate the way Lenddo does. I like their idea of an online scoring system which has a lot to do with making their financial products available. To learn more about Lenddo.com, feel free to browse the slide presentation below.

Lenddo

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Reasons Why We Plan to Homeschool Our Child

Many surveys have shown that parents in the US now prefer homeschooling for their children's education over the traditional system of education. What is interesting is that these results are increasing every year.

My wife and I are one of the many couples who have made homeschooling a preference. Some of the reasons why we plan to homeschool our three-year-old son this coming school year are:

1. We as parents can choose which subject we want our child to improve on. Flexibility is one of the strengths of homeschooling. Kids are able to develop their talents since they choose the courses that are aligned to their interests and gifts that are discovered at home.

2. Homeschooling also provides flexibility in time. This is a benefit to parents who are employed and do not have time to monitor their children's education. With homeschooling, they can choose the time they want their children to have classes. They are also the one who schedule the activities of their children. In our case, I am glad that my wife chose to take it upon herself to focus on teaching our child, full-time, at home.

3. I have observed from missionary friends who homeschool their child that they are more independent and responsible. They learn to deal with different age groups and are not confined in a classroom setting. They develop independence since they will not rely on friends for their homework and other activities.

4. Finding a homeschooling program is now easy since there are a lot of schools and religious organizations that offer this option to parents. Schools are now more accepting to this method of teaching that is why it is no longer limited to a small group or a selected social class. For our child, we chose the School of Tomorrow system (formerly known as Accelerated Christian Education).

Homeschooling is not only dependent on how good the teacher is but on how parents actively cooperate with the program. Active involvement of parents to their children’s learning is a must in homeschooling and that is also what we want. We want to be actively involved in our child's education. Yes, it would require and demand proper guidance and full support from us as parents in order for our son to learn and excel with the homeschooling program. But we are positive that this will all be worth the time and effort as we invest our life in our child through homeschooling.

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Education is Life: Thoughts on Homeschooling

This afternoon, I called up a school in Paranaque and inquired about the rates they have for homeschooling and was glad to hear that they provide a discount for full-time ministers. My wife and I have been planning and talking about starting our son, who will turn four this May, on homeschooling on June.

Since my attendance in the administrator's training of the School of Tomorrow system, I have become a believer of the system. One of the things I have learned from the trainings I attended was a definition of education that I haven't encountered before.

I learned that educations is life. Education is the communication of life from one living person to another. It's the communication of one generation to the following generation. Life comes from our patterns in our culture which is reflected in our morals, in our social behavior, in our laws, and most dominantly in the family.

And as a father, it is really my heart's desire to communicate a godly life to my son. I hope to pass on a godly heritage to my son that's why as we get him started in school, we want to be the primary influencers in his life. And I believe that homeschooling can minimize the bad influence a lot, not to say that, as parents, my wife and I are perfect. But we know how great the influence around us is. That's why I am taking it up upon my self to provide him the knowledge and the influence he will need to lead a life that is pleasing to God.

I am excited for my child and we hope that we'd be able to come up with the necessary finances to register and get ourselves oriented on homeschooling.

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