The View of Constructivist Theory on Assessment: Alternative Assessment Methods in Education

Abstract

Since the Ministry of National Education started the structural changes in the primary and secondary education curricula, there has been a growing interest towards constructivist learning philosophy, constructivist theory and active learning in educational and scientific environments in Turkey. Alternative assessment practices have an important place in the new curricula, which went into effect in 2005-2006 academic year. Many authors suggest that objectives for active learning method could only be attained if they were used together with alternative assessment practices. There are many writers who suggest that objectives for active learning method could only be reached if they were used together with alternative assessment activities. The principal aim of this study is to analyze the relations between constructivism and learning and assessment and also to discuss theoretically portfolio assessment and peer-self-co-assessment approaches that have emerged, and additionally to determine the positive and negative results stated in related studies, so that practitioners could draw some deductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]