Teacher's Reflection Series 1: Nurturing Growth Through Assessment

 

Zen Shin, a Japanese Buddhist monk says “A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” How inspiring is it that a flower focuses only on its growth and beauty without needing to compare with others to stand out? Flowers teach us a valuable lesson about embracing one’s own uniqueness and appreciating one’s own journey toward self-improvement rather than being consumed by comparison.

            Flowers seem to understand the concept of individuality better than school systems. I grew up in a culture of the traditional school system where there is a heavy emphasis on competition and comparison. Underperforming students are grouped separately from the ones who excel. The practice of segregation felt like a punishment for not blooming well with the others. It undermined the students’ needs and different ways of learning. It harbors a feeling of isolation and inadequacy that can diminish the development of their true potential.

            Thankfully, theorists and researchers came to light. The concept of formative assessment was introduced. The focus was shifted from comparison to collaboration; from competition to self-improvement. They also emphasized the pivotal role of teachers in utilizing assessment to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses and tailor-fit the method of instruction for the direct benefit of the students.

            As a graduate of the first batch of K to 12 and as an educator with experience in teaching under the K to 12 curriculum, I was able to encounter and implement the kind of assessment that recognizes individual progress. The form of assessment given to students is grounded on revised Bloom’s taxonomy and Lev Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development. The goal of assessment is to guide the student to become gradually self-sufficient.

            To tap my students’ independence, I initially focus on their emotional needs, assuring them that they are in a safe learning environment. I tell them that I appreciate when students ask for help and confess their vulnerabilities to me as their teacher. My students would always approach me at the end of the class either in the faculty room or via an online platform to tell me where they were struggling. Together, we work to address those difficulties by breaking the concepts into smaller steps until they achieve full independence. I take delight in seeing them become participative in class – not fearing to commit mistakes.

Teachers must provide timely and specific feedback to students to improve further learning. When students are aware of their own learning, they acquire a sense of responsibility and motivation for their learning process. Varied assessments are also given to ensure that the skills acquired by the students are transferable to new circumstances. As an educator, the essence of effective evaluation taught me that it is my duty to provide my students with the necessary support and guidance in order for them to flourish.

            The importance of assessment extends beyond the measurement of outcomes. It involves recognizing that students have diverse abilities, needs, and learning styles. I must consider each of their strengths, learning preferences, and uniqueness in the teaching-learning process. Every flower must be in the right conditions in order for them to bloom, so do my students.

Penned and illustrated by:
Kate Borlasa