Leveraging Assessment to Improve Learning

Assessments are viewed as one of the most complex yet vital responsibilities for teachers. The content and methods of assessment communicate to students the value of what they are learning, the expected learning process, and the level of mastery expected from them. Assessments provide teachers, parents, support staff, and students with a means of evaluating a student’s progress. They serve as a guide to help determine the effectiveness of teaching methods, curriculum, outside support, etc. Research has been conducted on the importance of summative assessments as part of the educational process. And by strategically using assessments, teachers can significantly improve learning outcomes and create a more engaging classroom environment.

Limitations of Traditional Assessments

The most common forms of assessment are tests and quizzes, homework, and standardized tests (including high-stakes tests). While common, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are the only methods that should be used to assess math understanding. For example, what do those test scores actually relay to educators about a student’s understanding of the content during the learning process? These forms of assessment may not give an accurate or comprehensive analysis of how well a student understands mathematical concepts or is capable of retaining and utilizing math skills in real-world problem-solving.

Also, let’s face it, some students are just not good at taking tests. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as test anxiety, lack of studying, poor time management causing them to rush or skip questions, difficulty with the various test formats (i.e., multiple choice versus short answer), a lack of understanding of the material, lack of test-taking skills, language barriers, difficulty focusing, etc. This means teachers need to assess math understanding in multiple ways to gain a broader picture of how well a student grasps the concept or skill. It is also important to understand a student’s logic in how they chose or arrived at an answer. 

Improve Learning with Diverse Assessments

Assessing math skills is crucial to evaluating a student’s progress in their mastery of mathematical skills, their aptitude to logically understand the concepts behind the skills, and their ability to apply their knowledge in practical ways throughout life. While assessments have traditionally been focused on grades and standings, multiple forms of assessments now serve as indispensable tools for guiding mathematical education. 

Young female teacher helping her students with their homework in classroom of private preschool

The following are several ways to assess math understanding that go beyond a test score. Keep in mind that every class of students is different, so the effectiveness of these methods may vary from year to year. It is important to utilize multiple forms of assessments to allow students to show their level of mastery of the mathematical skills and concepts covered throughout the school year. Assessments should be related to the material that has been taught. These assessments should be a means to inform and provide feedback on math lesson content and methods as you strive to meet the needs of current students. 

Assessments serve different purposes. Some assess what students have learned, others analyze how they learned it, and some types evaluate students while they are in the process of learning a concept or skill. 

Evaluating Student Understanding

Assessments of what students have learned include: 

• Portfolios: A math portfolio is a collection of work that showcases a student’s understanding and application of mathematical concepts and skills over time. It can include a variety of items, such as class work, problem-solving activities, projects, and reflections on mathematical learning. Math portfolios are often used as a form of assessment in education to demonstrate a student’s mathematical proficiency and growth throughout the school year. 
• Real-world application: While many math skills may be learned within the four walls of a classroom, these skills are ultimately meant to be used outside of school through real-world application. The opportunities to utilize math skills in everyday life are endless. 
• Video demonstrations: Many students in this generation love to make videos. So allow them to video themselves demonstrating how to complete equations or explaining their answers. This provides a fun assessment method for the kids and a way for you to evaluate their level of mastery at a later time.

• Peer-teaching and assessment: A great way to improve learning is for students to learn from and help their peers by monitoring their own and classmates’ development. Experiencing a classmate successfully explain a difficult concept can spark a breakthrough moment for struggling students. Research demonstrates that collaboration among children can enhance learning and memory retention. Allowing students to teach and evaluate each other (with guidance as needed from the teacher) can empower them as mathematics learners.
• Rubrics: Using a rubric provides a comprehensive guide to evaluate student work and understanding. A rubric can be used in tandem with multiple forms of assessment. It gives clear expectations by outlining the criteria that will be used to assess student work, providing students with a clear understanding of what is expected of them. Using a rubric ensures consistency so that all students are evaluated using the same criteria, reducing bias and increasing the reliability of assessments. Rubrics make it easier for teachers to provide specific and targeted feedback to students, helping them understand their strengths and weaknesses and how they can improve. Rubrics can be used to help students set goals for their learning, giving them a clear roadmap for improvement and growth. Having a clear understanding of the criteria for assessment can increase student motivation and engagement, as they know what they need to do to succeed. Using rubrics can also help teachers identify areas of strength and weakness in their teaching practices, leading to opportunities for professional development and growth.

As the old saying goes, “It’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey.” The following two categories of assessment focus more on the journey of learning than a summation of what students have already learned. 

Exploring the Learning Process

Assessments that analyze how a student learned the material include: 

• Reflective journaling: Math journals offer a versatile and effective means of assessing student understanding of mathematics. By having students regularly write in their math journals, teachers can gain valuable insights into students’ problem-solving skills, conceptual understanding, communication abilities, and overall mathematical proficiency.

Here are some ways to use math journals as a means of assessment: 

• • Reflection: Ask students to reflect on their problem-solving process in their math journals. Have them explain the steps they took to solve a particular problem, the strategies they used, and any challenges they encountered. This can provide valuable information about their problem-solving skills and understanding of mathematical concepts.
  • Error analysis: Encourage students to write about any mistakes they made while solving math problems. Have them analyze their mistakes, identify the root cause, and propose strategies for avoiding similar errors in the future. This can help teachers pinpoint areas of misunderstanding and provide targeted support.
  • Conceptual understanding: Use math journals to gauge students’ understanding of key mathematical concepts. Have them explain a particular concept in their own words, provide examples, and illustrate their understanding through visual representations. This can help teachers assess the depth of students’ conceptual understanding.
  • Communication skills: Assess students’ ability to communicate mathematical ideas clearly and effectively in their math journals. Encourage them to explain their thought process, justify their reasoning, and use mathematical vocabulary. This can provide insights into their communication skills and ability to articulate mathematical concepts.
  • Problem-solving strategies: Have students write about the problem-solving strategies they use in their math journals. Encourage them to reflect on the effectiveness of different strategies, compare and contrast approaches, and analyze the reasons behind their choices. This can help teachers assess students’ problem-solving skills and their ability to adapt strategies to different types of problems.

• Interview assessments: Utilize a rubric or checklist of what terms and skills demonstrate proficient understanding. Have the student solve a few math problems related to the current unit and/or previous units. You could also have them rework problems they recently solved incorrectly. Observe the student as they work through each problem. Pay attention to their problem-solving strategies, reasoning skills, and ability to show their work. Ask the student to explain their thought process as they solve each problem. This will help you better understand their comprehension of mathematical concepts and improve learning. Provide feedback and encouragement as the student completes the problems. During or after the interview, offer constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement. For more tips, watch this video: 60 Second Strategy: Interview Assessments

Real-Time Assessment Techniques

One proven method to improve learning is with real-time assessments. Assessments that evaluate students while they are learning involve active reflection by the student and observation by the teacher. Ideas for this type of assessment include: 

• Number talks: These offer a platform for students to share their answers with peers in partner or small groups and explain how they arrived at those answers. This fosters adaptability and logical thinking among students. Students may be observed using strategies taught in lessons, or they may develop their own ways of solving the problems, which promotes brainstorming as a developing mathematician. During number talks, students are presented with a math problem or concept and are encouraged to discuss and share their strategies for solving it with their classmates. This can help students build a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts, improve their mental math skills, utilize good communication skills, and develop a growth mindset towards math. Number talks typically involve mental math exercises, discussions of different problem-solving strategies, and opportunities for students to explain and justify their thinking. For ideas on incorporating number talks, visit 4 Number Talks & Examples to Try Today: Simply Creative Teaching and The Ultimate Guide to Number Talks: Hello Learning.

• Individual whiteboards: A quick way to assess all students’ answers at once is to provide them with a dry-erase board. If funds are limited, paper in a plastic sleeve or ziplock works well too. Students answer a math problem and then hold up their board for you to review. You can then reply to each one with a simple thumbs up, “Got it” or “Try again.” Students can then draw on part of their board while you reevaluate and assist students who missed the problem. Take note of any students who repeatedly struggle so you can review with them later when there is more time. 
• Exit tickets: These can be a useful tool to assess student learning following a lesson. The design of exit tickets can be simple or elaborate, utilizing a variety of paper-based, dry-erase, or digital designs. Keep in mind that exit tickets are meant to be a quick assessment, so students should be able to complete them in under five minutes. It is recommended to use a variety of types of questions and designs throughout the school year so that students don’t get bored with the same type. This also allows their learning to be assessed in multiple formats. Exit tickets can be utilized on a daily basis, several times a week, or on a weekly basis. Just taking a few minutes at the end of a lesson can be very beneficial to gauge student learning and inform your instruction.

For more ideas of formative assessments for math, visit 15 Math Formative Assessments Strategies That Rock‒Idea Galaxy.

Key to a Personalized Learning Experience

Understand the purpose of each assessment you use. Different assessments offer unique insights into student learning. For example, if you want to monitor how students are approaching a specific problem, consider questioning both groups and individuals. To gauge overall classroom understanding during a lesson, individual whiteboards can provide a quick assessment of the class as a whole. 

Exit tickets are useful to assess student learning after a lesson and to inform you whether more clarification or practice is needed in the next lesson. To assess progress towards mastering key standards midway through a unit, consider implementing an informal quiz, conducting interviews, or analyzing portfolios of work completed so far for that unit. 

Utilize a variety of data sources, such as observation, practice problems, and student journals, to group students based on instructional needs or strengths. This allows you to work with multiple students at one time that require similar assistance. 

By using a variety of assessment methods, teachers can provide students with valuable feedback that helps them improve their learning and become more independent learners.