Effective Assessment in Primary Education: Techniques & Practices

Assessment in Primary Education

• It is an integral part of the teaching-learning process.
• It is a fundamental component of the curriculum.
• It focuses on the student, classroom, and center.
• Objectives and curriculum serve as references.
• It is a means for continuous improvement.
• Assessment techniques must be consistent with the learning objectives.

Purpose and Objectives of Assessment

• Its primary purpose is to improve educational intervention.
• Specific objectives include:
• Monitoring the progress of children.
• Evaluating teaching practices.
• Assessing the functioning of the educational center.
• Evaluating student progress, teaching methods, and the center's effectiveness.

Characteristics of Effective Assessment

• Global: It should assess the full range of children's capabilities as reflected in the objectives.
• Continuous: It allows for ongoing correction and improvement of the educational process.
• 
• Formative: It helps to improve the teaching and learning process and achieve better results.

The Assessment Process in Primary Education

Evaluation in Teaching Practice

• Evaluation aims to adapt the educational process to the characteristics and needs of each child.
• It serves as an indicator of educational quality.
• A questionnaire can be used for self-assessment of teaching practices.

Techniques and Instruments for Evaluation

Assessment of the Learning Process

• Observation is the most effective method.
• Conditions for effective observation include:
• Natural setting
• Objectivity
• Reliability
• 
• Validity
• Careful planning

• Instruments to record observations:
• Anecdotal Record
• Checklist
• Rating Scale
• Class Journal
• Interview

Anecdotal Record

• Open-ended registration.
• Useful for collecting unforeseen, exceptional, or unusual events.
• Often used to document a child's social and emotional behavior.

Checklist

• Advantages: Easy to complete.
• Disadvantages: Does not require prior preparation and lacks nuance.
• Recommended for: Verifying the achievement of objectives in specific activities through observable behaviors.

Rating Scale

• Similar to a checklist.
• Advantages: Allows for the qualification of objective achievement. Can be used for individual observation or observation of the entire group.

Class Journal

• Documents the most significant events that occurred during the school day.

Communicating with Families

• Families should be informed about their children's progress at least once per quarter. A final report can be provided at the end of the course, and another at the end of each cycle.
• Considerations for reports:
• Discuss the purpose and meaning of the reports in a beginning-of-year meeting.
• Use a standardized report template.
• Express ideas clearly and concisely.
• Provide guidance for parental involvement.
• Include all essential aspects.
• Ensure the content is truthful and verified.
• Plan in advance and determine if an accompanying interview is necessary.
• Maintain a close and familiar tone in the report.

Assessment Documents and School Records

• When a child begins their schooling, the center will open a personal file.
• Notable documents include:
• School enrollment documentation.
• An initial report, the content and format of which are determined by the center's educational team.
• A qualitative report accompanied by copies of reports from other professionals, as well as copies of newsletters delivered to families regarding their children's learning progress.
• If a child transfers to another facility, the receiving school's secretary will request the educational record from the center of origin.

Legal Framework for Assessment in Primary Education

• First Cycle:
• LOE, Chapter I: Early Childhood Education.
• Decree 37-72008 of March 28: Educational content for the first cycle of Early Childhood Education in the Valencian Community. Objectives, content, and evaluation criteria.
• Order of June 24, 2008, on assessment in the United States.
• Second Stage:
• LOE, Chapter I: Early Childhood Education.
• Royal Decree 1630 of December 29: Curriculum for the second cycle.
• Decree 38/2008 of March 28: Upper secondary curriculum for Early Childhood Education.
• Order of June 24, 2008, on assessment in the United States.

• Evaluation Criteria:
• Serve as a reference point.
• Specify aspects to be evaluated.
• Help identify the progress and challenges of children.
• Evaluation criteria are found within the knowledge areas established by the curricula.