Fairness in Assessment

Being unbiased in assessment is critical for an educator. It is important that standards are not assumed and that the teacher knows the background of all the students. Teacher-constructed tests are one great way to make sure that the students have a full understanding of the content. Pertinent to a viable assessment is that the educator knows the background of the students. Certain questions that the teacher should be able to answer might include: Are the standards appropriate for the student based on their knowledge of the culture and language? Are there any disabilities that the child has that might hinder their ability to understand or complete the test? I believe that if the student does not understand the questions on a test it in unfair to grade them the same as a student who has full knowledge and comprehension of the subject. In my own classroom I will make sure to find out the students’ individual strengths and weaknesses so that I may have an unbiased approach to assessment.