Principle 5: Assessment Evolves

Assessment IS NOT...

episodic.

Assessment IS...

ongoing.

Often assessment is taken on as an exercise implemented to satisfy external audiences (i.e. administrators, accreditation bodies, the general public, etc.) Unfortunately, this perspective can lead to very little useful evidence for determining how to improve an educational program. Assessment instead should be viewed as a process for examining teaching and learning over time in the spirit of continuos improvement. Viewing assessment in this manner is valuable because it directs our current as well as our future needs.

In addition, not only should an educational program evolve as a result of assessment, the assessment process itself should also be evaluated and refined in light of experience with that process.