Posted by sam on July 09, 2002 at 02:00:18:
In Reply to: Re: Group 1 - Project: ONE more question posted by Catriona Moran on December 15, 2001 at 02:15:02:
: In our paper, we talk about the purpose of education as being "achievement for all". I think we really have to go much further and state what we mean by achievement. Many schools have developed what are called "schoolwide learning expectations" or "expected student learning results".These define what qualities or characteristics the school wants to foster through its educational program. These learning results are statements such as "Students will become good communicators, critical thinkers, life long learners, global citizens" etc. This, to me, is the ultimate pourpose of education. Academic standards are the vehicle that we use to teach the skills that students need in order to develop these qualities. Assessment allows educators to determine if, and to what extent students are meeting those standards. We are preparing these students for life, we can't teach them all they need to know for that lifetime but we can foster the characteristics that will allow them to successfully learn what they need to learn.