When I think of assessment today, I think of freedom!

Technology opens up a world of possibilities. It offers great challenges and, at the same time, enormous advantages. Educating virtually limits to a certain degree the ability of the instructor to capture, through face-to-face dynamics, deficiencies or problems that the student presents; having said that, the traditional forms of evaluation (test, quizzes) are being refined in the hands of programmers who have been developing techniques and applications that help the instructor when it comes to limiting the student’s freedom from information on the networks. Virtual teaching – like face-to-face teaching – entails great challenges to acclimatize to the constant changes in the world; however, there is a world of possibilities when it comes to virtual evaluating! Videos, traditional writings, reviews, blogs, movies, video games. Creativity is essential when evaluating!

Two worlds, two opportunities! 

              The term assessment refers to the wide variety of methods or tools used by educators to evaluate the knowledge of a certain theme in a student. In a face-to-face teaching environment, beyond the regular test and written resources, through the senses, the instructor has the ability to assess other strengths and deficiencies in the student that represent important factors at the time of learning: mood, resources and/or general state of the student. Virtual learning requires other types of strategies when evaluating, which although they represent challenges; in the same way they represent opportunities. 

              Evaluating a student begins with knowing their culture and the reality that surrounds them. The importance of putting a face and a story to the student’s name is fundamental when it comes to understanding the ways to respond to the material that will be taught. Even though I see hybrid learning as an effective means to incorporate existing face-to-face techniques and technological tools to teach online, I see in the world of virtual education a great capacity to shape teaching in a field of opportunities when evaluating in the student, not only their knowledge about a specific subject but the ability to assess their environment and circumstances – as a means of linking knowledge with the student’s reality.

Culture and learning

              The ideas, traditions, and customs that characterize a person, a social class, or an entire country, have an impact on the way they absorb certain knowledge. Similarly, the culture of the instructor influences the way knowledge is imparted. The foregoing does not seek to express that through culture the idea can be misrepresented, but that the form of transmission and reception will be complemented by cultural baggage. Knowledge is an open field without walls or fences and the creativity and cultural background of the student should be cultivated at the time of assessment.