1. Explain the purpose of the following types of assessment in learning and development • Initial Assessment • Formative Assessment • Summative Assessment Formative Assessment Initial assessment provides the information needed to plan an individual’s learning and improve their chances of learning effectively. Without it, there are only assumptions. It’s always possible to make some predictions about learners from an application form or selection test, but it’s an insecure basis for planning. Learners themselves bring assumptions about learning based on the past, and some of these may get in the way of looking ahead to a new way of learning.
Different people adjust to different strategies. Most people adjust to more than one strategy. We just need to identify which ones through assessment. How the Awareness of Learning Strategies Influence Teaching and Learning It is important for teachers to understand what a student is going through in their process of learning new information. If you know the learning style of the student, it is easier to convey the message you are trying to convey.
(Kolb, 1984:41) states that ‘in the figurative aspects, perception and imagination correspond roughly to the apprehension process, and mental imaginary corresponds to the comprehension process. People are not all alike and so how they see the world in a way that makes the most sense to us as individuals. This is called perception, our perceptions shape what we believe, how we make decisions, and how we define what’s important. Our individual perception also determines our natural learning strengths, or learning style. Each individual has his or her own unique learning strengths and weaknesses.
I feel it is important to take into account the personalities of the children, as learning may be inhibited if one child is particularly domineering or intimidating. It is also necessary to look at the subject being taught and be flexible in the grouping of children. I personally feel that for subjects such as Literacy and Numeracy, where there is pressure for academic success the children should be split into ability groups. I feel by working in ability groups, the children are still able to support each other and there is still a hint of Vygotsky’s ZPD theory being practised, as there is still a range of abilities within an ability group and the more able of one particular ability group, can support the others in the group. It is important to remember that no one child is the same as another, even if they are classified as being of similar ability.
Understanding the principles & practices of assessment Unit 1 1:1 Explain the function of assessment in learning and development The main function of an assessment is to ascertain if learning has taken place and that the learner has obtained the required knowledge, skills and understanding. Assessment needs to be a constant process which should take place every time you see the learner, either by watching what they are doing, asking questions or carrying out short coaching or training sessions. It should also focus on improving, re-enforcing learning and measuring achievement showing how the learner is developing and areas they need to improve on. Assessment can be formal which is when you use assessments, assignments, tests and workplace observation to assess learning and informal which can be by asking a few questions. When assessing learning it is important to have an understanding of initial assessment, formative assessment and summative assessment.
Explain why it is important to identify and meet individual needs Meeting the Needs of all Learners Student Diversity Aptitude Achievement Interest Motivation Needs Ability Learning and differentiation When planning to introduce an individualised approach to learning, as in personalised learning, teachers need to be aware of the ways in which learners prefer to learn. It has become common practice to identify preferred ways of learning during course induction. While this is clearly good practice, it is only the beginning of the process, not the end. As there is a range of CPD, while teachers may be well versed in theories of learning, what is not happening, in many cases, is the translation of theory into practice in the form of
Explain how a learning support practitioner may contribute to the planning, delivery and review of learning activities for the following areas : * literacy skills * numeracy skills * ICT skills * problem solving skills A learning support practitioner will contribute to the planning of an activity by firstly gaining a clear understanding of what the learning objective is and what the teacher wants the child to achieve from the activity. The practitioner will then find out the ability of the pupils they are working with and if they require any extra or specialist help , this then helps the practitioner provide the correct materials and equipment they need for the activity. A learning support practitioner would also contribute to planning as they will identify if pupils they are working with are likely to finish early and so can arrange with the teacher and additional sheets these children may need. An important part of planning would be for the practitioner to be aware of how much time they have to do the activity and can plan the activity to suit. A learning support practitioner will also be required to provide the teacher with feedback of the activity and the child's performance , so the practitioners should arrange with the teacher beforehand how they should be providing the feedback.
Normally, (for numeracy and literacy) I support the higher ability group for Numeracy due to the 1-2-1 pupil I support, and the middle group in Literacy whilst keeping an eye on the other rest of group (just in case, but they are normally competent to work independently). When working with a table or a group, there will normally be pupils who are at different levels. That is why it is so important to be able to modify and adapt activities to enhance learning experiences. One important contribution whilst the learning activity is delivered is to ensure that learners understand the learning tasks and to reinforce the teaching points from the input. Being aware of the needs of pupils and the level of support they require, whether learning or personality needs.
Some people learn better by simply listening, others learn by being hands on. No one has the inability to learn, you just have to figure out which learning style best helps you. Whether you are a visual, read/write, auditory, kinesthetic, or a combination, you are able to learn with
Another role is to evaluate the tutor's own teaching and revise learning plans if necessary. In terms of boundaries, the tutor should receive an introduction at the place of work and with that some outlines within the organisation's expectations in regards to role and responsibilities of a tutor as well as a feel of the organisation's ethos. It is however important to know how far to take the role of tutor and when is appropriate to refer a student to a different professional or bodies like the learning support team for diversity or disabilities issues. A tutor must remember to act within the syllabus and in relation with what he or she is teaching and not beyond the course, maintaining either professional as well as personal boundaries and always keeping in mind confidentiality, following the requirement expected within the