Student perceptions of a self-assessment environment

Abstract

Formal assessment in education focuses on summative assessment in the form of grade allocation. This has limitations on the learning process for students. Formative assessment should also be incorporated into learning as an integral part as it offers many benefits. Reflective learning in the form of self-assessment is central to the process of formative assessment. Students, however, tend not to engage in the process of self-assessment. This skill can be developed by educators in an educational setting, but educators tend not to create an environment in which students can self-assess.

The study explored students’ perceptions of the self-assessment process once they had been exposed to it over a period of time in a facilitated environment. This encouraged them to engage in the process and develop the skill of self-assessment.

The research method was exploratory in nature and was conducted by means of a design experiment in which students were encouraged to self-assess on three occasions during the 2012 academic year. Data was then collected from the students by means of a structured survey.

The results of this study indicated that students tended not to self-assess if not encouraged to do so. However, once given the opportunity to do so in an environment which supported it, students were positive about the process of self-assessment. They believed that it would improve their overall academic performance and indicated that they would continue to apply self-assessment to their studies in future. This study concluded that students were positive about self-assessment and that they applied it accurately and in a meaningful manner to their studies in an environment which supported it.