Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in collaboration with the Kenya National Examination Council, and with the guidance of experienced scholars, academic experts and educationists recommend Authentic Assessments as the best approach in evaluating Junior Secondary School (Grade 7-9) learners’ knowledge and progress in the context of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC). Authentic Assessment which is also referred to as Performance Assessment, Alternative Assessment or Direct Assessment, hasn’t gained as much exposure as experts and developers wish it ought to. For this reason, it has become difficult for teachers, educators and mentors to select the best Assessment test for learners in Junior Secondary Schools, specifically Grade 7, which is the first class in the level. This article aims at highlighting teachers, parents and other education stakeholders on the kind of Assessments our Junior Secondary School learners should take and why Signal is incomparable to all that are currently available.
What is an Authentic Test and What are Its Basic Attributes?
To begin with, lets understand what this Authentic Assessment Test really is and some of its main attributes. Authentic Assessment is a type of evaluation that measures a student’s ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world contexts. A good Authentic Assessment test should reflect the complexity and authenticity of the tasks that students will face outside off the classroom. It should be designed to allow students to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways, such as through performance tasks, projects, portfolios, and simulations. An ideal Authentic Assessment should be aligned with clear learning objectives and include clear criteria for evaluating students’ work. Additionally, it should provide meaningful feedback to students that helps them to understand their strengths and areas for improvement. In summary, below are some of the basic features you as a teacher should consider when settling on an ideal authentic Assessment Test for your JSS students.
- Room for a variety of responses (This calls for the structured questions)
- Promotes Critical and Creative Thinking
- Allow Differentiated learning
- Involve Planning, doing, revising and reflecting
- Provide opportunity for peer collaboration
- Encourage self-assessment and deep reflection among others.
Overall, a good authentic assessment test should be designed to promote students’ learning and encourage them to engage with their classwork and general education in a meaningful way.
Signal JSS Authentic Assessment Tests meets all the aforementioned requirements and demands as guided by Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in collaboration with the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) under the Ministry of Education with the guidance of scholars and academic experts . Strict adherence to these guidelines coupled with our culture of rigorous research, originality, efficiency and customer satisfaction makes our JSS Assessment Test standout in the midst of many others. To give your learners the best, always choose the best available partner and most importantly, the best available learning, support and evaluation materials.