Assessment and Evaluation
Yellowknife Education District No. 1 follows the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Department of Education, Culture and Employment’s Student Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting Directive to monitor student progress.
In schools across the District student assessment is based on the learning outcomes identified in the students’ respective programs (regular, modified, or individualized) according to standards in the curriculum or those identified in specific student modified or individualized plans.
Assessment FOR Learning and Assessment OF Learning are two main parts of student assessment, which are equally important aspects of monitoring student progress.
Assessment for learning is ongoing throughout the year and provides feedback to students about ways they can enhance their learning, and to teachers about ways they can differentiate their instruction to meet the needs of individual students.
- Provides timely feedback and suggestions for improvement
- Focuses on the process of learning
- Gives the teacher information about what a student may need in the area of further instruction
- Encourages the student to set goals for improvement and new learning
- Occurs regularly, over time; provides a “video” of learning
Assessment of learning is determined at the end of a unit or term and measures a student’s mastery of particular learning outcomes, skills, or content.
- Provides a final mark based on mastery of the skill, concept and/or content
- Focuses on the end result
- Gives the teacher information on how well a student has learned the required concepts and skills
- Gives the student a sense of completion and understanding of a particular topic
- Occurs at the end of a section or unit; provides a “snapshot” of learning
Standardized assessment is used to assess how well the educational system is addressing specific curriculum outcomes in Language Arts and Math. YK1 conducts standardized testing at grades three, six, and nine through the use of Alberta Achievement Tests (AATs). Results are analysed by district and school-level administrators, and teaching staff as they compare it to data collected over a period of time. These groups consider a number of factors including trends and areas where there are strong correlations between learning outcomes taught and tested, as well as areas where there is room for improvement.
Parents receive the results of these standardized tests for their individual children directly from Alberta Learning in the fall of the next school year; results are provided to the public as determined by the GNWT Department of Education Culture and Employment.
It is important to recognize that standardized tests are designed to measure the ‘system’ and not an individual student. With regard to curriculum-based learning outcomes, the scope of such tests is narrow. Fewer than 50% of the learning outcomes in each subject area are tested. This is one of many reasons why these results are not used by YK1 as the sole evidence of student performance.
Student progress is formally reported to parents three times a year at the Kindergarten to Grade 8 level, and four times a year for high school students. At these times parents and guardians received report cards which outlined their child’s ‘progress-to-date’.
At the Kindergarten to Grade 8 level, conference times are available during the November and March reporting periods. High school reporting periods and conference times correspond with its semester system. High school reports are provided every six weeks throughout the year and conferences are available in the October, December and March reporting periods.
In between these formal reporting periods, communication among teachers, parents/ guardians and students helps to keep student progress on track and provides an opportunity to address concerns that may arise. YK1 believes that ongoing dialogue and open communication among teachers and parents/guardians are vital components of quality education.
