The year is nearing a close, we have had the awards morning, students are busily finishing assignments and cramming for exams. Assessment completed equals work completed. It seems that this is the thought process of many. This is one of the great “Urban Myths” in education. Once assessment is handed in, the semester or year is over. I will pose this question, where else in society do you complete something and come to work the next day and say, “I’ve done that job now I’m going to do nothing?”

I have found a common question asked in classrooms especially for older students, “is this for assessment?” It is interesting when you stop to think about this idea. Assessment has become, for many, the most important action undertaken in school. I can’t remember a student saying to me, “is this for learning?” Dr Justin O’Connor, senior lecturer at Monash University in curriculum points out, “assessment is the ongoing process of gathering and analyzing and reflecting on evidence to make informed and consistent Judgements to improve future student learning.” The interesting idea is here, assessment is not the end but part of an ongoing process.

Process not product, learning not assessing, the core of education is to learn not to be judged at a specific point in time. Judgement is a necessary part of the process, but it is not the process. If we can instill in all involved a love of learning, a passion for discovering the unknown and a curiosity to know more now than I did yesterday, the assessment will take care of itself.

Looking at learning then, what am I seeing? It was brought to my attention how a group of young ladies worked out a dilemma. An outcome was achieved between the time I was alerted to a possible problem and when I caught up with the parent the next morning. Young people communicating to work things out using positivity and compassion. The Year 8 group using their curriculum to inspire an auction of items that were unwanted by their owners but bought by others. The students saw a need and put into action so many of the values that we hold dear at OLSCC. The group of Year 6’s who are planning a Prayer Gathering and morning tea for their parents to celebrate the wonderful year they have had. Initiative and effort aimed at promoting the common good. What are these children learning about life? Skills that will hold them in good stead in the years ahead.

Let’s go full circle back to the beginning of this article. Learning is a lifelong journey it is not punctuated by assessment it is complimented by assessment. Some of the best learning outcomes I have witnessed have been achieved in the latter weeks of semesters. The students have three more weeks of learning. Let’s make it count.

Steve Gillespie

(acting) Assistant Principal Middle Years