| Assessment has been an integral part of academia and educational institutes have constantly been in flux with the introduction of neoteric methods of assessment time and again. Every school has a policy of grading or assessing its students. This norm of grading seems to be widely accepted even though the process may differ with respect to different institutions. However, have we ever thought what if the teachers were also to be assessed and that too by the students? How would it be? Would the teachers be comfortable getting report cards from students? Would the students be transparent enough while doing this assessment? Can it be possible? Will this be of importance or will the students lose respect for their gurus/ facilitators/ guides/ teachers? Multi-national corporations often adopt the system of a 360-degree appraisal, wherein an employee is not just rated by the superior, but by their peers, juniors, and even their own selves. The intent behind such a system is to ensure that the assessment is fair, unbiased, and takes into account as many dimensions as possible to enhance the performance of the employee in the best way possible. To place a similar system in schools could do wonders, provided it is implemented with care. The other question that arises then, is to ensure that the assessment must be effective and of good quality. Given time, it could be relevant, informative, and focused on the behavior which could perhaps, lead to a positive change. Structuring the assessment in a standardized way to holistically recognize and reward the good work in the form of appreciation, must also be ensured. A certain set of standards can be set along with expectations to ensure that the feedback given is within the parameters and would promote a healthy learning environment. While students can convey how their knowledge, capabilities, skills, and competencies were enhanced through the teaching methodology, the teachers can use this knowledge to build or modify their teaching strategies, making the teaching style truly learner-centric. Such feedback also harbors the propensity to strengthen the rapport and relationship between the student and the teacher. A mutual grading or feedback mechanism hence has great potential to promote and enhance growth in terms of teaching and learning. While students continue to strive and excel in scholastic as well as non-scholastic activities, teachers can learn to restructure or reorient their teaching methodology in order to impart unexcelled knowledge to the 21st-century learner. |
SHRI RAM GLOBAL SCHOOL
Delhi-West
Nurturing Individuality