What is Process Assessment in Teaching?
In teaching, process assessment refers to the method where teachers monitor the process students use as they write. This approach focuses on the journey of learning and creation, rather than solely evaluating the final outcome.
Unlike traditional methods that might only look at a finished piece of work, process assessment shifts the focus to the steps a student takes while learning or completing a task. As the reference highlights, in the context of writing, this specifically means that teachers observe and evaluate how students:
- Brainstorm ideas
- Plan and outline
- Draft
- Revise
- Edit
By monitoring these intermediate steps, teachers gain insight into a student's thinking, strategies, and challenges during the learning process.
Process vs. Product Assessment
The reference clearly distinguishes process assessment from product assessment:
| Feature | Process Assessment | Product Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Monitoring the process students use | Evaluating students' finished compositions |
| Timing | During the creation/learning process | After the product is completed |
| What's Seen | Drafts, outlines, revisions, thought processes | Final paper, test score, finished project |
Both methods serve a crucial purpose, and as the reference states, the overarching goal in both types of assessment is ultimately to help students become better writers (or learners in general).
Why Monitor the Process?
Focusing on the process provides valuable insights:
- Identifies Strengths and Weaknesses: Teachers can pinpoint exactly where a student struggles (e.g., organization during outlining, clarity during drafting, grammar during editing).
- Provides Timely Feedback: Feedback can be given at various stages, allowing students to make improvements before the final product is evaluated.
- Encourages Reflection: Students are encouraged to think about how they learn and what strategies work best for them.
- Supports Diverse Learners: Different students approach tasks differently. Monitoring the process helps teachers understand and support these varied approaches.
Practical Examples in Writing
Implementing process assessment in writing might involve:
- Reviewing student writing notebooks or digital files to see drafts and revisions.
- Conducting individual conferences to discuss a student's writing plan or draft.
- Providing feedback on outlines or initial paragraphs.
- Using checklists for specific stages of the writing process (e.g., 'Ideas generated,' 'Thesis statement drafted').
- Having students write reflections on their writing process.
By assessing the process, teachers can provide more targeted support, guiding students not just on what to write, but how to write effectively, aligning with the core goal of improving student capabilities.
