Introduction

There have been many changes in how we think about assessment over recent years. Many of these changes are relevant to education for a sustainable future.

Perhaps the most noticeable change is the focus on relating learning with the measurement and reporting of what students have achieved. This relationship helps make assessment an integral part of students' day-to-day schooling rather than a series of end-of-course tests.

This goal is especially important in education for a sustainable future because of the wide range of objectives concerned with knowledge, skills, values/attitudes, and action.

This module develops ways of assessing student learning that are appropriate to education for a sustainable future.
 

Objectives

To develop a sense of direction and innovation in the assessment of learning in education for a sustainable future;
To analyse key assessment issues and make decisions that will integrate assessment with effective teaching and learning; and
To develop skills for using appropriate ways of assessing the knowledge, skill and values objectives of education for a sustainable future.

 

Activities

1. Yim-lin's class
2. Defining assessment and evaluation
3. Changing attitudes to assessment
4. Methods of assessment
5. Decision-making exercises
6. Self-assessment
7. Reflection

 

References

Dorion, C. (1994) Planning and Evaluation of Environmental Education, WWF, Godalming.
Eckstein, M. and Noah, H. (1992) Examinations: Comparative and International Studies, Pergamon, Oxford.
Gayford, C. and Dorion, C. (1994) Planning and evaluation of environmental education in the school curriculum, The New Bulmershe Papers, University of Reading.
Gayford, C. and Macintosh, H. (1986) Profiling: A User's Manual, Stanley Thornes, Cheltenham.
Hunt, G., Murdoch, K., and Walker, K. (1996) Assessment and evaluation: Profiling achievement in SOSE, in R. Gilbert (ed) Studying Society and Environment: A Handbook for Teachers, Macmillan, Melbourne.
Rowntree, D. (1977) Assessing Students: How Shall We Know Them? Harper Row, London.
Satterly, D. (1989) Assessment in Schools, Basil Blackwell, Oxford.
Sumner, R. (1991) The Role of Assessment in Schools, NFER-Nelson, London.
Wilson, J. (1992) Assessment and evaluation, in M. Wooley and K. Pigdon, (eds) The Big Picture: Integrating Children's Learning, Eleanor Curtain, Melbourne.

Credits

This module was written for UNESCO by Bernard Cox, Margaret Calder, Lisa Ryan, Clayton White and John Fien, from materials and activities prepared by Philip Stimpson in Learning for a Sustainable Environment (UNESCO - ACEID).