Why Access?

Reflection

1. Imagine that your beginning level class is completing a unit about pastimes: what you like/don’t like to do. Look at the list of evaluations below and consider:
    

   What information will you gather from each item? Is this information useful? For what purpose(s)?

   Matching a list of pastimes to the appropriate pictures of the activity. Labeling pictures of various activities (no list provided). Filling in the blank with the correct form of the verb to say what various people like/don’t like to do. Listening to someone name an activity and identifying the picture of the activity that is named. Choosing the correct response from three or four choices (multiple choice) Chapter test – written Rehearsed dialogue or skit

2. If you limit your evaluations to the ones listed above, will you know if your students can discuss with others and write about their pastimes? What else would you have to do to make sure that your students could successfully communicate with others about their favorite/least favorite pastimes?
    
3. Now think about the difference between recalling information and applying information. If students can recall information (a list of vocabulary words, the endings for regular verbs), it does not mean that they can apply the information to communicate their ideas and understand others’ ideas successfully. To gain a complete picture of what students know and are able to do, how must you design your assessments? How will this affect your instruction?