Which focus should be prioritized in assessment, according to DIDEA?

Prioritizing students’ ongoing growth and learning processes in assessment aligns with the key principles of effective assessment practice. This approach emphasizes the importance of understanding how students are developing over time, rather than solely focusing on final outcomes or scores. By concentrating on ongoing growth, educators can gather insights into students’ individual learning trajectories, strengths, and areas for improvement. This focus allows for more personalized instruction and supports the idea that assessment should inform teaching and enhance learning rather than just serve as an endpoint evaluation.

In contrast, the other choices emphasize specific aspects that do not support a comprehensive view of student learning. Summative results, while important, provide a snapshot of performance at a single point in time and may neglect the developmental processes that contribute to learning. Teacher convenience in assessment could lead to methods that prioritize ease over effectiveness, potentially undermining the quality of the insights gained about student learning. Lastly, relying solely on standardized scores ignores the richness of information that ongoing assessments can provide, as it reduces learning to a numerical representation without addressing the nuances of student learning experiences. Thus, the emphasis on ongoing growth and learning processes is essential for fostering a supportive learning environment that prioritizes student development.