I read a phrase on the Workplace Mentor Platform which says “If you don’t record or documents at work, then it never happened”. Can you imagine that, if you can’t back it up with data then it never happened. What are you going to use to assess your school? It’s information embedded in data, day in and day out. This leads to the topic, school assessment.
School assessment is a systematic method of collecting information from students on teaching, learning outcome, and other key factors in the school. The information is processed, analyzed and evaluated for accurate decision making and to promote school improvement.
School assessment encompasses all the methods used to gauge and understand students, their learning and other key factors. It’s a vital tool for teachers to understand student progress, identify learning gaps, and tailor instruction accordingly. Assessments can range from informal classroom observations to formal standardized tests and are crucial for improving student learning outcomes, which is key.
Assess the students in the various domains of learning, not just in classroom examination. Conduct assessment of students that have passed through the school for a post-school assessment exercise will give a detailed report analysis. There are different types of school assessment you can research to find out or approach a consultant.
The statement “What cannot be measured cannot be managed” may not be universally true but it suggests that without metrics and quantifiable data, it’s difficult to effectively direct and control an activity or process. Essentially, if you can’t track progress or performance,
- You may lack the information needed to make informed decisions.
- Unable to identify areas that need improvement.
- Uncertain about achieving your goals or not.
Some aspects of management involve qualitative assessments, the core idea highlights the importance of measurement for effective control and improvement.
You have to document almost everything that happens in your school or organization. If you truly want to improve using assessment metrics. Oftentimes, growth happens where the vision is clear and there is orderliness in all manner of things. Orderliness in operations, communication, execution, presentation and production.
School Assessment Facilitates:
A school properly assessed with the appropriate methodology and analysis should arrive at the right evaluation.
This depicts accurate precision of the school element.
- Understanding of the metrics and key factors in the school.
- It also translates to knowing what is happening, year in year out in the school.
- Increases clarity.
- Promote concise decisions to be apportioned for its development.
- It aids problem solving and detects the root cause of the problem. A problem discussed or diagnosed is half solved.
- School improvement.
A scientific and behavioral approach should be used to arrive at the outcome. Create multiple systems for key data collection. The need to value information and be serious with data in this part of the world cannot be over emphasized. This will avoid deformed decisions or speaking fallacy.
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Opeyemi Ojo is a Personal Development and School Improvement Coach.
She is an educator and a consultant; participated as a School Monitor with Centre for Human Health Population and Nutrition (CHEPON). During the Nestlé Healthy Kids Global Program for over four years. She has served as a School Administrator for close to three years.
Opeyemi Ojo has a Diploma and a Bachelor’s degree in Aquaculture and Fishery Management from Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB).
She also has a PGDE and M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Planning at the University of Lagos, Akoka.
She is an Alumna of the Leading Ladies Business Institute (LLBI), Advanced Daystar Leadership Academy (DLA) and a Member of TRCN, NIM and FISON.
She is also the C.E.O of Opscy Concept; an offshoot of Opscy Bookcity, a bookstore with a vision to inform, educate and impart knowledge for continuous personal development. She has authored several books.
She is a facilitator at Equip/Beyond Success, the non-profit organization of John C.Maxwell.
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Opeyemi Ojo on LinkedIn
theimprovementcentre@gmail.com
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