Redesigning Assessment for Holistic Learning

Abstract

This paper discusses the importance of holistic assessment in the teaching and learning process at all levels of education, both in schools and in higher education institutions. Redesigning classroom assessment for holistic learning to improve student learning is not a new idea. Educators conduct assessment for a variety of purposes such as determining the level of student academic achievement or identifying weaknesses and strengths of students. Educators need to be equipped with ways to maintain these processes to determine the quality of student achievement. Assessment should reflect the understanding that learning is a complex process by engaging a varied selection of techniques, comprising those that require real and authentic performance, utilising them over a period so as to disclose evolution, progress, and emergent steps of integration. The assessment should be continuous and balanced. Implementing holistic assessment benefits the students, teachers and stakeholders. Educators should develop courses with diversified teaching and learning materials that enrich students’ learning experiences with appropriate and authentic activities. Holistic assessment ensures that curriculum is developed to relate to the real world requirement of the tasks and setting that demand thought-provoking conditions to challenge the students. This paper focuses on applying various assessment methods that need to be mastered by educators to ensure students benefit in terms of their personal growth, strength and their learning process. It also offers some recommendations that could help in augmenting assessment, teaching and learning.