Teachers have been using these four categories (Knowledge and Understanding, Thinking, Application, and Communication) to grade students for the past 10 years. I believe that the four categories are necessary to assess
students in their learning development in any subject area. The categories help teachers to really
diagnose where the students strengths and weakness lie. Teachers can then take those assessments and
make the appropriate modifications and/or accommodations for the students, as well
as communicate to parents more specifically areas their son or daughter need to
improve on. The problem is using the
four categories effectively, and I feel teachers have trouble figuring out
what question belongs to which of the four categories (Knowledge and
Understanding, Application, Thinking, and Communication). That being said, teachers
need to be given more resources and workshops to understand how to use
the four categories properly in order for them to be an effective tool in the
classroom.
I am still trying to learn and understand how the four
categories are used properly in assessing students. I feel that the four categories are necessary
to assess cognitive skills needed to be successful. They are also a great tool to help teachers
focus not only on students’ understanding of knowledge, but also on the
development of skills such as thinking, communication and application.
As an educator, I am willing to learn how the
four categories can be used more effectively!