School Based Assessment (SBA)

• What is School Based Assessment?

School Based Assessment (SBA) has been proposed as next generation assessment to address distortions and gaps that have arisen due to deficiencies in implementation of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE).

School Based Assessment (SBA) facilitates acquisition of specified competencies in terms of overall learning outcomes during teaching-learning process. School based assessment is rooted in overarching process of 'Assessment for Learning'.

School based assessment helps teachers to monitor the child's learning progress, provide timely feedback and help the child overcome learning difficulties. School Based Assessment (SBA) helps in monitoring the quality of education at the micro level.

Assessment should be done in a manner that does not burden teachers and effected their teaching-learning.

Main objective of school based assessment is to understand the learning needs of children to help them enhance their competencies and to help them overcome if any learning difficulties.

Without making a reasoned assessment of competencies in the school based assessment process and without knowing what the learning is behind each of them. cannot be assessment.

School based assessment is an integral part of teaching-learning. During learning, children need to participate in activities both inside and outside classroom and collect information from different sources on different aspects of content. Which can be completed only through school based assessment.

School based assessment is involved as a participant in planning, transfer and assessment of learning process and thus involves both giving and receiving feedback from students and teachers.

School Based Assessment (SBA) is primarily based on principle that teachers know the abilities of their students better than outside examiners. School based assessment is a continuous process in which the learning errors of learners are identified and rectified.

Therefore, in School Based Assessment (SBA), teacher assesses his learners himself, so he also has a sense of dominance over his jurisdiction. When the sense of ownership comes in teacher, then sense of self-responsibility also comes automatically.

Thus school based assessment creates a sense of ownership in teacher and helps all students to learn more in a school based environment. School based assessment enhances learning by providing constructive feedback and ensures holistic development of all students.

• Key Features of School Based Assessment

1. Integrating teaching-learning and assessment.

2. In this type of assessment, there is no burden on teachers for documentation, recording, reporting etc. as in CCE process.

3. It is a child-centred and activity-based learning method.

4. Focus on ability development (based on learning outcomes) rather than rote memorization of the subject matter in this assessment.

5. Scope of assessment is to be broadened through self-assessment, peer assessment as well as teacher assessment.

6. Emphasis on fear free, stress free and increased participation among learners.

7. Focusing on assessment of learning rather than assessment of achievement.

8. Build trust in the teacher and system.

9. Increase confidence in the students.

10. Objectively assess learning outcomes

11. To assess learning outcomes of all children at primary level. This process will be done by respective schools only.

12. It is quantitative and qualitative evaluation techniques.

13. School based assessment is of multidimensional type.

• What is Learning Outcome?

Change in behavior of the child as a result of teaching-learning process is called learning outcomes.

Learning outcomes tell us what a student needs to learn during a given class level. Determined learning points for given class level when students have learned and can use in daily life.

Learning outcomes are designed to move away from assessment based on rote memorization of reading material.

Emphasis on ability based assessment has helped teachers and entire system to understand what children will achieve in a particular classroom during year in terms of knowledge, skills and changes in socio-personal qualities and attitudes.

Learning outcomes are statements full of knowledge and skills that children need to acquire by the end of a particular class or curriculum and are supported by learning promotion pedagogy methods that need to be implemented by teachers.

These statements are process based and provide checkable points, both qualitatively or quantitatively, to assess the progress of the child on the scale of holistic development.

For Example -

Learning outcomes of Hindi Subjects of Class I Students

1. Pronunciation and writing of vowels and consonants by the student.

2. Match the learned letters with the relative picture. class 2 level

3. To recognize the volume of vowels by the student.

4. Ability to pronounce and write two alphabet letters.

5. Can write the names of familiar pictures. class 3 level

6. Student describes need food for people of different age groups and for animals and birds.class 4 level

7. Student explains process of production and purchase of daily necessities like food, cloth, water etc.

This is the learning outcome. Learning outcomes are aimed at whether student is able to apply what he/she has learned/proficiencies/skills acquired in classroom in everyday life.

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