Unlocking Success: The Importance of Assessing Student Learning Engagement

Introduction

Despite numerous learning interventions in schools in India, learning outcomes continue to remain low. This is true even when considering various initiatives that have been implemented since 1990, such as the Bihar Education Project, the District Primary Education Project (DPEP), the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and now the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. Unfortunately, India still has the highest number of non-literates and out-of-school children in the world, as reported by UNESCO in 2014.

The Chance-Based Approach to Education

One of the key reasons for the low learning outcomes in India’s education system is the predominant reliance on a chance-based learning approach. Currently, how much each child learns is often a matter of chance rather than planned outcomes. This becomes evident when we observe children failing to recognize alphabets and numbers even after three to four years of schooling. When children attend school, they quickly realize that they are unable to learn effectively. The learning that does occur is often a result of chance, rather than a systematic and intentional approach.

The same reliance on chance-based learning can be seen in sports and other co-curricular activities. Whether a student becomes a chess champion or the school excels in hockey, it is learning by chance, rather than a well-structured educational approach.

Excessive Tracking and Assessment

Excessive emphasis on tracking and assessing every aspect of learning has become a burden for both children and teachers. Assessments have turned into yet another ritual that schools are burdened with. This excessive focus on assessment adds to the already heavy load that children have to bear, as they are surrounded by various empty time-fillers. However, among all these time-consuming activities, learning tracking in relative terms is the emptiest. It seems to have become an empty exercise that consumes a significant portion of children’s time in school.

The assessment industry has its own economy, with numerous assessment companies solely dedicated to evaluating students’ performance and summarizing what they know. This further contributes to the pressure on schools to constantly weed out underperforming students. While assessments have their importance in providing feedback and measuring progress, excessive learning tracking misses the essence of meaningful learning for children and the broader school community.

It is crucial to strike a balance between assessments and meaningful learning experiences that foster the holistic development of students. The focus should shift towards creating an environment where children can actively engage with the learning process, rather than being overwhelmed by constant tracking and evaluations. This shift in perspective will help alleviate the burden on both children and teachers and allow for a more enriching educational experience.

The Need for Student Engagement

The quality of students engagement is key to learning than frequent evaluation. It lies in shifting teachers’ mindsets regarding intelligence, the acquisition of knowledge and organization of knowledge, and the role of society and the family. Genuine learning should involve reflective practice for the learner, allowing students to assess their own progress and engage in self-reflection. Research has consistently shown that self-reflection is a more effective way of learning and leads to better results than simply being told what, how, and why to learn. A simple example could be asking students to write about some great personality, before that reading references to decide what to write, discussing it with friends, reviewing her reviews, making list of words to describe the text, and keeping time to check its coherence, and grammar. Similar could be from learning to count: understanding one-to-one correspondence; the cardinal Principle;The abstraction Principle; and The Order-Irrelevance Principle. One can divide each piece of knowledge for children, irrespective of subject, to read, review, get reviewed and revise. 

Assessing Engagement in Learning

Addressing the issue of student engagement in learning requires a broader perspective that goes beyond understanding the subject matter and adhering to predetermined roadmaps. Interventions should focus on mapping and evaluating student engagement throughout the learning process rather than solely assessing learning outcomes. This approach allows learners to review, be reviewed, and revise their understanding at each natural step determined by the student’s own progress.

Conclusion

The persistent learning challenges in the Indian education system necessitate a shift towards prioritizing student engagement. By adopting a deliberate approach to learning and focusing on meaningful engagement, students can assess their own progress and develop a deeper understanding of the subjects. It is crucial for interventions and educational policies to emphasize student engagement rather than solely relying on external evaluations. Only through a student-centered approach can India’s education system overcome its learning challenges and provide a quality education for all.