ABSTRACT
WHAT IS ASSESSMENT AND WHY DO IT? Assessment means different things in different contexts, and it is carried out for different purposes. There is no simple answer to what it is or why we do it. Indeed, one of the most important messages that we would like you to take away from this unit is that assessment is not a simple or innocent term. Assessing learning is not a neutral or value-free activity – it is always bound up with attitudes, values, beliefs and sometimes prejudices on the part of those carrying out the assessment and on
the part of those being assessed. When we make assessments of children’s learning, we are always influenced by what we bring with us in terms of our previous experiences, personal views and histories. Children’s responses to assessment are influenced by what they bring with them – their previous experiences and their personal views.
