Self-Assessment and Peer Assessment

Self-assessment is the process by which students evaluate their own work, given criteria established by the teacher. This is important because, ultimately, the responsibility for learning belongs to the student. A teacher might ask students to validate their thinking on certain problems or to explain how they arrived at a particular solution. It is important that a teacher asks about correct answers as well as incorrect ones, in order to support the idea that students have control of the subject and that questioning is not related to students' mistakes or failure. Student self-assessment helps to build students' self-esteem, and it helps them to see how incorrect answers can be valuable in the process of arriving at correct solutions.

Sample self-assessment

After students complete a mathematical problem or investigation, ask them to evaluate how they felt about their work by writing "yes," "no," or "not sure," in response to all of the following questions. Be sure to explain that there are no correct or incorrect responses.

I understood the directions to the problem. __________

I found an answer to the problem. __________

I could explain this problem to another student. __________

I enjoyed solving this problem. __________

I thought the problem was too hard. __________

I thought this problem was too easy. __________

I thought this problem was just right. __________

I never saw this kind of problem before. __________

This problem reminds me of other problems I have solved. __________

I would like to do more problems like this one. __________

Peer assessment is a group activity in which students listen to, discuss, and analyze each others' strategies for solving problems. Peer assessment makes it possible for students to see different ways to proceed and to make judgements about which way makes the most sense, which seems easier, and which leads to stumbling blocks. Observing these discussions will benefit the teacher in learning about the students.