It's important to understand that assessment is not just about whether the code works or not. You should also consider the logic behind the code. Is it well-structured? Does it demonstrate problem-solving skills? Does it show that the coder has understood and applied the coding concepts learned?
Well-structured
For instance, if a student is tasked with creating a simple calculator program, you should not only check if the calculator performs the basic operations correctly. You should also look at how the student has structured their code.
Problem-solving skills
Furthermore, you should also assess the student's problem-solving skills. Did they understand the problem at hand? Did they come up with a logical solution? Did they test their code thoroughly to ensure it works as expected? These are all important aspects of problem-solving in coding.
Understanding of concepts
Finally, you should assess whether the student has applied the coding concepts learned. For instance, if they have learned about loops, did they use loops appropriately in their code? If they have learned about conditional statements, did they use these statements correctly? This will help you gauge their understanding of the coding concepts learned.
Formative assessment is a crucial part of the learning process, especially when it comes to coding. It's not just about the final product, but the journey to get there. This step involves assessing students' coding skills during the learning process. This can be done through various methods:
Through formative assessment, you can identify areas of improvement early on and adjust your teaching methods accordingly to better suit your students' needs.
Summative assessment is a method of evaluating student learning at the end of a specific instructional periodβusually at the end of a lesson, course, term, or school year. In the context of coding, this could involve assessing a student's final project, their performance on coding tests/quizzes, or their presentation of a piece of software they've developed.
When conducting a summative assessment, you should consider the following:
Remember, the goal of summative assessment is not just to grade the students, but also to gauge their understanding and application of the coding concepts taught, and to provide feedback that can help them improve in the future.
Peer assessment is a powerful tool in the learning process, especially in beginner coding projects like Scratch, Microbit, and Python. It involves students assessing each other's coding projects. This method not only helps students learn from each other but also develops their ability to critically analyse and give constructive feedback. Here's how you can implement it:
Self-assessment is a crucial part of the learning process, especially in coding. It encourages students to reflect on their own work and learning process. This step involves students evaluating their own code, identifying what they did well, and where they can improve. This can be facilitated by providing a self-assessment checklist or guide. The checklist might include questions like:
By answering these questions, students can gain a deeper understanding of their own learning process and improve their coding skills.