Module 4 - Assessing Competences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Module 4 - Assessing Competences - Essay Example The reason is that student’s use the same tools as specialists do. The shift in teaching methods from teacher centered to student centered is widely acknowledged as students play an active role in their learning process. Traditional learning was teacher centered, and most of the time the teacher played an active role of lecturing while students took a passive role of watching and listening (Afflerbach, 2007). Cooperative learning entails students working in teams on projects and problems under conditions that guarantee positive interactions and personal responsibility. Active learning is when students answer questions, debate, ask questions and brainstorm during class time. Inductive learning entails presenting challenges to students, who then learn the course materials in the milieu of addressing the challenges presented. Some inductive learning methods include just in time teaching, discovery learning, case studies inquiry based learning, and project based learning. Student centered assessments include essays, group progress reports, presentations, outlines, instructor student meetings, reflections, problem solutions and essays. The main assessment strategies to assess knowledge, competencies and skills are feedback, the class structure, the syllabus and the assignments. Class structure The structure of the class is another strategy to assess learners’ skills and competencies. In order to assess knowledge and skills, the tutor employs the case content to cover learning skills and to foster student’s self awareness for learning. The tutor also uses short activities from time to time to teach students on how to use supplementary materials, learn how to read and summarize texts (Heritage, 2007). Under the class structure, the tutor helps students to form small groups, which the students use in learning groups and team skills. The small groups can be for learning inside or outside classroom. Usually, learners do not have the skills and compet encies to work effectively in groups. Facilitating small groups prompts students to be familiar with problems that can happen when working in groups. Facilitating small student groups also helps students to have ideas on how to address group conflicts (Ensino, nd). Small groups are essentially noteworthy in helping students to prepare for the work environment as they will work in teams in an organizational setting. Assignments Assignments are a core factor used to assess learners’ skills and competencies. Well designed assignments engage students in authentic learning tasks. Assignments may be in different forms such as paperless assignments, written assignments, practical assignments where students pursuing technical courses like music may participate in live singing and concerts. Assignments build up study initiatives in students. Assignments also create a sense of responsibility related to completing their homework (Ensino, nd). Assignments also help students to develop sk ills of time management. The assignments are designed for a specific period of time and students must comply with the assignment deadline. As students learn to do things on their own, they learn how to utilize time effectively, which encourages self discipline and autonomy (Heritage, 2007). Feedback Feedback is the key area to influence the degree to which evaluation practices are developmental, rather than exclusively judgmental. Feedback is at the centre of the