Educational assessment at Selásskóli
Selásskóli bases its educational assessment on the primary school national curriculum's competency criteria. Competency criteria form the foundation for teaching methods and educational assessment. Educational assessment should cover all skill areas and reflect the competency criteria and learning subjects. Teachers and students select teaching methods, learning materials, and assessment methods based on competency criteria. These are detailed in the school curriculum.
Encouraging assessment
Selásskóli emphasizes clearly communicating assessment criteria to students. The educational assessment aims to be motivating, analytical and guiding. When evaluating student performance or progress against competence criteria, the focus is primarily on the individual student. The assessment considers the student's progress and achievements based on their own abilities and skills.
Key competencies
Key competencies are integrated into the assessment. These skills relate to the student's personal development and aim to promote their overall growth. Key competencies connect to all subject areas and include skills in communication, creative and critical thinking, independence and cooperation, media and information use, and responsibility for one's own learning. Assessment of key competencies appears in the student's competence profile, with input from all their teachers. It's important that key competencies are part of primary school education, both formally and informally, as well as in school practices
Assessment goals
Selásskóli conducts continuous assessment throughout the school year. The school year is considered one assessment period.
The goals are:
• To evaluate how well a student has achieved the required competence criteria
• To inform students and parents/guardians about the student's academic standing
• To ensure the assessment is guiding and encouraging
• To identify who needs special assistance
• To guide students on their studies and how they can meet set criteria
Parent-teacher conferences
Parent-teacher conferences occur twice a year, in October and February. October focuses on well-being, communication, and the start of the school year. February emphasizes student academic progress. The conversations aim to guide both parents and students.
Competence criteria
Competence criteria for all subjects are available in Mentor, along with information on student assignments and assessments. The learning process assesses student performance and various outputs such as independent projects, workbooks, writing assignments, presentations, and artwork. Teachers observe students at work, evaluating factors like independence, cooperation, social skills, work habits, and attendance.
Academic progress
The national curriculum's competence criteria for each subject form the basis for teaching methods and assessment. Mentor defines measurable competence criteria for all subjects, using the following scale:
- Outstanding competence
- Competency achieved
- Needs practice
- On the right track
- Competency not achieved.
Formative assessment
The national curriculum emphasizes teachers helping students with realistic self-assessment, explaining learning goals and progress towards them. To achieve this, formative assessment is emphasized. Students regularly reflect on their learning with teachers to approach their goals and decide future directions. Students must understand which competency criteria form the basis of the assessment. Formative assessment aims to evaluate student progress to make necessary changes in learning and teaching. Formative assessment monitors and guides students during the learning period. Various assessment methods are emphasized, such as surveys, performance evaluations, self-assessments, peer assessments, and discussions, to gather information on student status, knowledge, abilities, and needs for improvement.
Students participate in the assessment process. Feedback is regular, purposeful, analytical, positive and useful, allowing students to evaluate their progress.
Final assessment
Selásskóli now considers the school year as one assessment period. Final assessment primarily provides information about learning and teaching outcomes at the end of the study period or school year. Final assessment methods are determined by the national curriculum's competency criteria, often based on diverse student projects and work. For student assignments, the assessed competency criteria and related rubrics are clearly identified. 1st-7th grade. Learning progress is evaluated based on competency criteria in students' competence profiles. No final grade is given in spring.