Authentic assessment and observation

As we explored in earlier chapters, learning is a process. Authentic assessment captures the learning as it occurs naturally. Teachers observe students during their play, evaluating behaviours that students engage in and their interaction with materials, objects and people. Assessment can often take the form of noting down if these behaviours and interactions evidence:

• signs of progression in their learning
• achievement in relation to learning intentions and success criteria
• new abilities or skill extension
• student enjoyment and collaboration with peers

Teaching is a practice that continues to evolve over time and the experiences of fellow teachers can be invaluable in providing insights and ideas about classroom strategies and in the case of this chapter assessment and play based approaches.

Read, look, or listen

Watch the video (58:51) below for a current practice-based perspective on assessment and play-based learning. The teachers and lecturers’ share their experiences in the classroom and the findings of their research. Pay close attention to the teachers from primary schools in Australia as they discuss why they choose to assess student learning through a play-based teaching and learning approach. This webinar captures key ideas about assessing play but it also effectively links theory to practice, making the hour of viewing a worthwhile investment.

Assessing learning through play (58:51)

Engage and extend

Having listened to the practitioner discussions and their perspectives in the video. Consider the importance of teacher’s observational data and the ways in which they provide authentic opportunities to assess children’s learning. Did you notice while watching the video that, on more than one occasion, the significance of formative assessment is mentioned?

In order to reflect on the diverse assessment opportunities in the play-based classroom, draw a mind map that captures the different types of formative assessment that can take place as children engage in their play.

Remember that mind mapping is a particularly strong visual note taking approach that can be either drawn on paper or digitally created. You arrange or map out your notes, often with a central idea in the middle and main concepts or details branching out. You can then draw lines to other branches to show connections.

Keep in mind:

• • don’t spend too much time on your mind maps
  • use colours and images when appropriate
  • you can use digital templates but don’t feel restricted by them

Click on the text areas in the digital mind map below if you would like to use this template to capture your thinking. After filling in the boxes you can print the slide to have keep a digital copy. Look for the print icon at the bottom of the activity.