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Classroom Assessment in Learner Centered Pedagogy

In learner centered pedagogy, teaching approaches have changed. Teachers are facilitators of learning and students are experts who interact extensively with available resources to build on their knowledge, skills, and understanding of the subject matter.  In learner centered pedagogy, classrooms should be viewed as “Workshops” and students as experts who interact with available tools (learning resources) to produce desired products (achieving learning outcomes). One of the potential role of teachers/ facilitators in these workshops is to ensure all the necessary tools (learning resources) are available or arranging effective use of few available resources.  To be clear in the issue of availability of learning resources, I don’t believe in the “lack of sufficient resources” saying. I believe in the idea of using the only few available or a single resource available in a meaningful way.   I remember my little thinking; It is far very helpful for a teacher who think of a way

Understand Four Purposes of any Educational Assessment Process

Assessment (in education) is a continuous process of monitoring learning so as to determine learning achievement and effectiveness of the instruction. It can be done before the start of the new course or lesson, during learning or at the end of the lesson/ course. Data obtained from the assessment enable educators to improve the facilitation practices, helping learners change or modify their learning styles as well as to grade and award learning achievements.    Assessment is the backbone of learning. It informs the progress of learner’s acquisition of knowledge and skills throughout the learning process. Assessment should tell whether learning is taking occurs or otherwise. Generally, if learning is the company, then assessment should be its manager.  Due to its importance, sufficient attention should be given to any assessment procedure. Before preparing any test, a careful planning of the assessment process is necessary. This is the reason why the first step in conducting

Addressing the Challenges of Implementing Learner Centered Pedagogy: A Focus on Learner Centered Assessment

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 Learner Centered Pedagogy Principles. Image: University of Wisconsin-Madison In several previous articles, I discussed a bit about the learner centered teaching and learning. An important approach which places students at the center of their own learning. With the learner centered approach, students are provided with opportunities to develop 21 first needed skills of creativity, critical thinking, research, innovation, communication and collaboration.  The shift from teacher centered to learner centered s in Tanzania was first incepted in 2005 in primary schools, secondary schools and in teacher education. However, various empirical evidences from Tanzania have revealed numerous challenges pertaining its implementation. Few to mention has been lack of enough teaching and learning facilities, inadequate knowledge and understanding of the tenets of learner centered pedagogy including effective implementation of learner centered assessment.    Educational assessment

Performance Based Assessment in Maths: Hampton High's Disaster Relief Mission

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 A screenshot from a Video Documentary of the Hampton High's Disaster Relief Mission. In one of my articles (read it here), I highlighted the importance of sharing classroom teaching experiences. In another article, I noted about the rare culture of African educators, and specifically Tanzanian teachers in sharing their teaching practices.  This culture is common to European teachers. There is a tendency for them to document their experiences on how they organize, plan and enhance student learning. As a means of stressing the importance of documenting our teaching practices, today I present to you another example from Mathematics Teachers in Hampton High School. To test student understanding of the trigonometry topic, teachers had to plan for a project which could allow learners to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding of Trig. The project was named Disaster Relief Mission. But, before moving on, what the heck is this Performance Based Assessment? It is a fo

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