Assessment and Learning Essays

Assessment and Learning Essays Assessment and Learning Essay Assessment and Learning Essay Assessment and learning Assignment 1 Student results are used to review the quality and standards of teaching within the college. My students do a Btec level 2 which is graded from a pass to distinction based on the level of criteria the student achieve during each assignment. The students also do an NVQ in sport excellence. This is also graded from a pass to distinction depending on the quality of work provided through the year. The students Btec work is marked by me using the criteria which has been set by Btec. Each assignment is marked and then an overall grade is give to each unit which has been studied. The students work is also marked by an internal verifier who ensures I am marking the work correctly and giving the grades in accordance to the standards which are set by Btec. This verification also ensures that all teachers are marking consistently at the same level in the same course in different lessons. The college use these pass grades and course completion rates to assess the quality of teaching in th e college so if the grades start to slip the college can give assistance to the teachers where necessary. The college also use these grades and pass rates to market the college and maintain the profile of the courses within the college. The course work is also externally verified by Btec to ensure the college marks work to the same standard as other colleges in the country this means that anyone who passes the course will be consistent with others in the country. The college runs a SAR which the teacher can use to review the students progress through the year. The success rates of each student is important to the college as it shows that the standards are consistent and the pass rates will be achieved at the end of the year. If a teacher feels that students are not going to achieve the necessary standards the heads of department will have to look at the scheme of work and how the lessons are being implemented. The college will assist with any changes that may be required as the course could ultimately be dropped if standards are not achieved. The college has an OFSTED inspection which reviews the colleges overall performance. OFSTED report on all aspects of the college from the teaching to the administration of all departments. This inspection is done in every college across the country and OFSTED report on the necessary improvements which need to be made in each college. This is done in order to maintain the national standards of all subjects that are available at college. If the college drops below the national average then OFSTED have to assist the college in increasing the teaching standards within the college to improve the standards. Fair The purpose of the assignment was to determine the progress of learners and to provide adequate feedback that will motivate and assist their development. It was a formative assessment to gain an idea of the current abilities of learners and therefore did not contribute to their final grade. Also it was not constrained by time therefore making it less stressful as opposed to undertaking a summative assessment. iii. The assignment was appropriate for the learners to undertake as it was based on lessons and work that had been carried out previously during the academic year therefore students already had the necessary knowledge and skills to complete assignment. Careful consideration was taken when creating assignment to ensure that what was being assessed matched with what learners had previously learnt. It was vital to make the assignment a practical exercise that accurately measures the competence of learners as this approach was a requirement by the awarding body Edexcel. Using the competence approach of assessment gave learners an insight to the conditions and skills closely related to that of the IT industry. (Get a quote Reference: Anne Cox and Harriet Harper (2000), Planning Teaching and Assessing Learning, London, Greenwich University Press p73) Adjustments were made on the diverse needs of learners to ensure that all learners had equal access and opportunity to complete the assignment. Learners with a disability were given extended time to complete the assignment and had the option of getting assistance from a learning support worker. According to Keeley browne 2007 all educational institutions have had a responsibility to make reasonable adjustments for learners who have a diagnosed learning difficulty or disability and where approrpraite make adjustments to the way they are assessed. Assignment was done within lessons that took place within the IT labs therefore all learners had access to the resources necessary to complete assignment such as Computer, software, internet access etc. Task 3 In education feedback is a very useful tool that is used to assist in the development of learners. The general aims of providing feedback are to encourage learners, correct errors improve performance and reward or penalise certain behaviours (Haines 2004). The manner feedback is communicated to learners can have a positive or negative effect on the students moral, confidence and ultimately their learning experience. Any criticisms of learners work must be constructive in an attempt to encourage, motivate, and highlight areas for concern whilst focus on positives to improve the learning experience. Giving feedback to learners on their work can be done either in a written or verbal format; however the approach used is dependent on the assessment method, and the outcome/results of the assessment. For example if there is a common problem that majority of students have expressed then a verbal group feedback session could be adopted. In this approach to giving feedback, the teacher gives feedback to the whole class. Browne 2007 states that this type of feedback requires thoughtful planning and should be done prior to returning marked assessment in the form of a short introductory part of a teaching lesson. A feedback mechanism that encourages constructive feedback is the feedback sandwich. Docheff (1990) cited in F Butler describes the feedback sandwich as an effective model that comprises of reinforcing informational and motivational phrases. This approach is very useful as it gives learners an indication that they are heading in the right direction, provides critical information on performance; highlighting both strengths and weaknesses and finally encourages learners. Another approach of issuing feedback to learners is the use of feedback sheets with handwritten comments on learners assessed work. According to (Rece) this is an example of a type of written feedback. The use of comments in giving feedback is widely used within education and can be applied to essays, reports, dissertations etc. This is a very effective way of giving feedback as the comments are linked directly to the assessment criteria giving the students a clear understanding on the outcome of their work and any problems in a particular area of the assignment. An example of a comment could be You have carried out an extensive review however wider reading is required on the subject area. The feedback is therefore personalised and tailored to each individual learner. This approach of giving feedback is beneficial for learners as it can be repeatedly reviewed and learners can use it as a point of reference as opposed to verbal feedback. The disadvantage to handwritten comments is that it can be an exhaustive process for teachers to personalise comments to each individual learner. In the process of target setting learners should have an active role as it demonstrates a level of responsibility and accountability for their learning. Targets set should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (SMART), and agreed on by both the teacher and student. Within learning institutions a typical example of target setting occurs at the beginning of the academic year in the form of Individual learning plans (ILPs). According to Browne 2007 it is a planned route that takes into consideration the needs and abilities of learners to achieve success. The use of ILPs is beneficial as it serves as a guide to what work needs to be completed, and a way of tracking and logging learners progress i.e. outcomes and action plans. Meeting targets can improve the confidence levels and morale of learners; however those who are unsuccessful should be given appropriate support in the form of feedback to acknowledge their errors and ways of improving. Task 4 Continuing to develop ones teaching practice is an integral part of a teachersâ„ ¢ profession. It is important to maintain and acquire new skills to ensure that learners receive a high standard or quality of education. There are a wide range of resources available to teachers that can assist in improving knowledge and skills on assessment issues. A teacher may wish to improve on giving constructive feedback or learn how to create valid, relevant, fair assessments. A very useful approach is to update your skills and knowledge of assessment by researching using books or material available on the World Wide Web. There is a vast amount of books and online material dedicated to providing information on assessment topics e.g. Training to teach in the learning and skills sector by Liz Keeley Browne or tda.gov.uk website. Training to teach in the learning and skills sector provides detailed information on the various types of assessment, designing assessment tasks, using feedback to help learners improve and record keeping. This book is very helpful as it provides templates of assessment tasks, and tests your understanding by using short tasks/exercises. The use of books and online material to enhance your teaching practice is beneficial as it is cost effective, can learn at own pace, provides theory that can be experimented within lessons; however a disadvantage is that it is not practical based and you may find difficulties transferring theory into practice. Learning by observing an experienced teacher such as your mentor is another way of improving your teaching practice. This can be done though observing a teacher issuing coursework or giving feedback to learners, view samples of assessments he/she has issued and seeking advice through discussions. This approach to developing as a teacher is hugely significant as you are able to receive suggestions and advice from an experienced professional and it also improves communication amongst colleagues. Further study or undertaking a course that solely focuses on assessment is a good way of developing. The University of Cambridge offers a course called the certificate of education in the principles and practice of assessment. This is a good way of improving as you obtain knowledge of assessment from specialists whilst receiving a recognised qualification; however it can be an expensive option as the course fee is ?760 per course or ?2210 for three courses. Source (https://cpdsearch.tda.gov.uk/ProvisionDetail.aspxe=fQCguFY5tkyDmYHsxSnw6PN1ukni+elx) Another route available to improve professionally with regards to assessment is to become a marker/examiner for examinations boards such as OCR. A key advantage to this approach is that you do not have to be a qualified teacher to become a marker; however good communication skills and a level 4 qualification, such as a degree is a requirement. Moderation is done frequently throughout the year typically January, June and March (put in Source OCR website and is a good source of earning an extra income whilst providing practical experience of marking learners work. References Armitage. A; Renwick M. (2008) Assessment in FE : a practical guide for lecturers, The Essential FE Toolkit Series, London, Continuum: pp70-80

The German American Bund, American Nazis of the 1930s

The German American Bund, American Nazis of the 1930s The German American Bund was a Nazi organization in the United States in the late 1930s that recruited members and openly supported Hitlers policies. Though the organization was never massive, it was shocking to mainstream Americans and drew considerable attention from the authorities. Fast Facts: The German American Bund The German American Bund was a Nazi organization which operated openly in the United States in the late 1930s, attracting press attention and generating controversy.The organization was led by Fritz Kuhn, an immigrant from Germany who was a naturalized American citizen.Nearly all of its members were American citizens, though mostly of German descent.The German American Bund was active between 1936 and 1939. The Nazi leadership in Berlin had tried to create a support organization and propaganda operation in the United States but failed until an ambitious and belligerent German immigrant, Fritz Kuhn, emerged as a leader. A naturalized American citizen, Kuhn rose to prominence before his 1939 imprisonment for embezzlement abruptly ended his career as the topmost American Nazi. The German American Bund was separate from the America First Committee, which emerged later and expressed more mild support for Hitler while advocating that the United States stay out of World War II. Origins The German American Bund evolved from an earlier organization, the Friends of New Germany. During World War I, some German-Americans had been subject to discrimination and ostracism, and the Friends of New Germany cited continued resentment of some German-Americans as it recruited in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The Friends of New Germany leadership was affiliated with Hitlers Nazi movement in Germany. American members of the Friends of New Germany took an oath pledging loyalty to Hitler, and also swore that they were of pure Aryan blood and had no Jewish ancestry. The organization was being guided from afar by one of Hitlers close associates, Rudolf Hess, but it was marked by inept leadership in America and demonstrated no clear sense of how to carry the Nazi message to mainstream Americans. That changed when the leader of the Detroit chapter of the Friends of New Germany emerged as a fanatical leader. Fritz Kuhn After serving in the German army during World War I, Fritz Kuhn attended school and became a chemist. In the early 1920s, while living in Munich, he became fascinated with the small but rising Nazi movement, and subscribed to its racial and anti-Semitic fixations. Kuhn got into legal trouble in Germany by stealing from an employer. His family, assuming a fresh start would be helpful, aided him in moving to Mexico. After staying in Mexico City for a short time he moved on to the United States, arriving in 1928. On the advice of a friend in Mexico, Kuhn traveled to Detroit, where jobs were said to be plentiful in the factories run by Henry Ford. Kuhn admired Ford, as the great American industrialist was widely known as one of the worlds foremost anti-Semites. Ford had published newspaper columns titled The International Jew which advanced his theories about Jewish manipulation of financial markets and the banking industry. Kuhn found a job working in a Ford plant, was laid off, and eventually obtained a job working as a chemist for Ford, a job he held until 1937. In Detroit, Kuhn joined the Friends of New Germany and his fanatical devotion to Hitler helped him advance to the leadership of the local chapter. At about the same time, the Nazi regime in Berlin began to view the fractured and faltering national leadership of the Friends of New Germany as a liability. Hess withdrew support for the group. Kuhn, sensing an opportunity, moved to replace the organization with something new and, he promised, more efficient. Kuhn called for a convention of the local leaders of the Friends of New Germany, and they met in Buffalo, New York, in March 1936. A new organization, called Der Amerikadeutscher Volksbund, or the German-American Bund, was formed. Fritz Kuhn was its leader. He had become an American citizen, and he decreed that members of the German-American Bund would also have to be citizens. It was to be an organization of American Nazis, not German Nazis operating in exile in America. Gaining Attention Basing his actions on those of Hitler and the Nazi hierarchy, Kuhn began his rule of the Bund by stressing loyalty and discipline. Members were required to wear uniforms of black pants, grey shirts, and a black military-style Sam Browne belt. They did not carry firearms, but many carried a truncheon (said to be for defensive purposes). Fritz Kuhn saluting marching Bund members at Camp Nordland in New Jersey. Getty Images Under Kuhns direction, the Bund gained members and began building a public presence. Two camps, Camp Siegfried in Long Island and Camp Nordland in New Jersey, began operating. In 1937 an article in the New York Times noted that 10,000 German Americans attended a Camp Nordland picnic at which American flags were displayed beside flags of the Nazi swastika. Nazis at Madison Square Garden The most memorable event staged by the German American Bund was a huge rally at Madison Square Garden, one of New Yorks major venues. On February 20, 1939, about 20,000 Bund supporters packed the huge arena as thousands of protesters gathered outside. The rally, which was promoted as a celebration of the birthday of George Washington- who was depicted on a huge banner hung between swastika banners- featured Kuhn giving an anti-Semitic speech. Banners hanging from the balconies proclaimed Stop Jewish Domination of Christian America. The mayor of New York, Fiorello La Guardia, had seen enough. He understood Kuhn and the Bund had a right to free speech, but he wondered about their finances. He held a meeting with Thomas Dewey, the district attorney (and future presidential candidate), and suggested an investigation of the groups taxes. Legal Problems and Decline When investigators began to look at the finances of Kuhns organization they realized that the self-styled American Fuhrer had been embezzling money from the organization. He was prosecuted, convicted in late 1939, and sent to prison. Without Kuhns leadership, the German American Bund essentially disintegrated. Kuhn remained in prison until the end of World War II, when he was deported to Germany. He died in 1951, but he had faded so far into obscurity that his death was not reported in the American press until early 1953. Sources: Bernstein, Arnie.  Swastika Nation: Fritz Kuhn and the Rise and Fall of the German-American Bund. New York City, St. Martins Press, 2014.American Fascism in Embryo. American Decades Primary Sources, edited by Cynthia Rose, vol. 4: 1930-1939, Gale, 2004, pp. 279-285. Gale Virtual Reference Library.