Stage 4: Integrate Assessment

Watch this video to learn more about using a classroom portfolio.

Assessment is an integral part of curriculum design.  Effective assessment is transparent, ongoing, purposeful, meaningful and linked to well-defined learning outcomes.

Integrating assessment is the fourth stage of curriculum development. Effective assessment directly measures learning outcomes (Stage 3: Set Learning Outcomes). This ensures that assessment supports the program's purpose and goals (Stage 2: Determine Focus), which is developed in response to the needs of learners and the community (Stage 1: Understand Needs). Effective, purposeful assessment promotes accountability and transparency (Stage 5: Demonstrate Accountability) at both program and classroom levels.

Assessment can be conducted for a variety of purposes. This framework addresses assessment for three purposes:

• Assessment for learning

• Assessment as learning

• Assessment of learning

Clarifying the purpose of assessment and using the information gathered to achieve the purpose is important for ensuring that assessments are effective.

Portfolios

An effective way to capture and record learners' progress is through the use of portfolios.  This framework provides information on using four types of portfolios:

• Classroom portfolios

• Collaborative learning portfolios

• Evaluation portfolios

• Showcase portfolios