Formal and informal assessment

Introduction

We all know the importance of assessment in the classroom. But what is considered formal and informal assessment? In this post, I will define both types of assessments to help you determine which type best fits your needs. 

Most teachers are comfortable using formal assessment in the classroom. The curriculum requires certain formal assessments at specific points in the teaching year, and guidance is provided on these requirements. When it comes to informal assessment, this is mainly left up to the teacher’s initiative. This post will discuss the differences between informal and formal assessment and offer some pros and cons of each. Informal assessments are typically less time-intensive than formal assessments but can be lacking in accuracy. Formal assessments are more accurate but require more time to complete. When deciding which type of assessment is best for your needs, it is essential to consider the amount of time you have available for assessment purposes versus how much information you need about students’ progress on a given skill or concept. 

assessment
Assessments

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Bloom’s Taxonomy Question Stems

Bloom’s Taxonomy question stems is a tool for educators that will help them create and scaffold questions to meet the needs of their learners. It can be challenging to know where to start when setting a question for your students, but you’ll have all the tools necessary with this resource! 

Bloom’s taxonomy is a multi-layered model for encouraging learning by progressing through six levels of increasing complexity. Bloom’s taxonomy encourages learners to engage with knowledge at a deeper and more interactive level, working with what they are learning in the real-world sense, rather than passively taking information on board.

Question stems are used to generate questions that respond to each level in the taxonomy. Below is a comprehensive list of question stems for all levels that teachers in the class can use.

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5 Ways Technology Is Helping Teachers Do Their Jobs Better

Technology can be a powerful tool for teachers. It is now being used in classrooms to help students learn and to help teachers teach better. Here are five ways that technology is assisting educators:

Technology has made it easier for teachers to create more engaging lessons

A teacher can create lessons tailored to their students’ needs and interests, either by using pre-built modules such as those from Edtech companies or by creating their own. For example, a science lesson for elementary school children about food chains could be created with videos in which an animated animal eats different plants.

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Why is media literacy important?

Media literacy is the ability to think critically about what you are seeing, reading, and hearing. It helps us to analyse information from a variety of viewpoints. With so many sources of information today, critical thinking skills can help people identify reliable sources and filter through the noise to get at the truth. For example, we may spot fake news faster or understand why certain products are advertised more than others on social media sites like Facebook or Instagram. We might also notice that content shared on those platforms often comes with an agenda – such as promoting an organisation’s political ideology or persuading someone to buy something they don’t need.

Importance of media literacy

Media literacy is essential because it helps people understand the messages that are being communicated to them. With so many sources of information today, media literacy can help people identify reliable sources and filter through the noise to get at the truth.

media literacy
Media literacy means learning to think critically

Inherent bias in media

Media literacy can help people recognise biases in the media and how they may affect their perception of an event or issue. For example, a conservative news outlet might only cover terrorist attacks to make people afraid. That same media organisation may also use emotional language to make readers feel negatively towards refugees and immigrants coming into their country. A progressive news site may promote equality for all genders or highlight how poverty affects minority communities. By recognising those biases, we can make decisions on how to respond to these sometimes emotive topics rationally.

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What does LMS mean?

LMS Definition

LMS stands for Learning Management System. This system is a software application that manages your education process online. An LMS provides an interface for teachers to assign and grade assignments, provide feedback and track student progress. It also has many administrative features like managing users of the LMS and setting up new courses.

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