Assessment of Learning versus Assessment for Learning

Assessment of learning is testing the knowledge retention when a person is educated/taught in a subject matter. This will be to determine what the person's goals will be to build his program. These are assessment strategies that are designed to confirm what students know. It demonstrates whether curriculum goals or goals of the program are met.

Assessment for learning is establishing the skills level a person has before undertaking any other learning. For example, if training a person to measure two pieces of wood, fix together to gain a length that has to be cut to a final size, it would be advisable to ensure that the person was familiar with basic math as it will require addition and subtraction. If these basic skills are not there, then the training to cut the wood will fail. Assessment for learning allows teachers to pinpoint where a student is currently "at" with his learning More importantly though, it helps to assess what they need to learn next in order to get to the next...

Source:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_differences_between_assessment_for_learning_and_ assessment_of_learning

Reflection/Reaction

Here are two terms that, to me, need a second look, a second thought, assessment OF learning and assessment FOR learning, similar or different?

I say, YES to both. Similar because both are assessments which serve as basis for making instructional decisions and different because assessment of learning has a summative role, assessment is given at the end of the lesson. This is to find out if students have learned the subject matter after it has been taught. Assessment for learning has a diagnostic role. Assessment is given before the subject matter is taught. Information or results gathered from the assessment are used to enhance instruction and improve learning.

Every teacher then needs to assess if he wants to find out if his students are learning, if his teaching is effective and if he wants to know what the students need to do to improve. 

Now comes the question, what kind of classroom assessment do our teachers give to their students? Is it a good well-planned assessment that promotes students' learning?

Let' face it, there are a few teachers, I hope, who sometimes give a test because he is not prepared with his lesson, or give a test because it is a matter of classroom routine or worst as a means of punishing the students who are noisy, have not passed the assignment or not ready with the assigned reports. Test scores are recorded and grades are computed, period. No proper evaluation is made after the assessment. 

It's so disappointing, isn't it? This is one important area in the teaching-learning activity, my dear colleagues, that we should look into. If this is happening in your school, demonstrate your instructional leadership. Make sure that classroom practices and materials used by your teachers are aligned with your school goals. There should be regular teacher observation and feedback.Encourage your teachers to use assessment of learning and assessment for learning.

Thank you.