Written by Craig Pohlman, Ph.D.
Once upon a time, I had a dishwasher that created a big puddle of water in the middle of the kitchen floor after each cycle. The repair person who came over found a tiny hole in the dishwasher that had rusted through. Years later, the same happened in a new house and dishwasher. A second repair person came over and said we have many things going on. There was too much water flowing in, so we needed to use less soap in the water and put the pots and pans in differently, so it didn’t splash near the front. All this stuff was going on, but it still caused the same problem.
While the surface issue with the dishwasher was water leaking on the floor, both cases had different underlying causes. The same thing can be said about learning assessment and how each student is different. Learning assessments play a crucial role in supporting a student’s academic success. These assessments identify and show where improvement is needed. Clinicians can comprehensively understand a child’s neurodevelopmental needs using various assessment methods. This is essential for tailoring effective interventions based on their distinctive profile.
One of the primary benefits of learning assessments is that they provide objective data that can guide parents, teachers, and mental health professionals in developing personalized educational strategies. Is there an issue with attention? Memory? Language? This new knowledge allows for the creation of learning plans that cater specifically to a student’s profile. Regular assessments can track a student’s progress, providing valuable feedback to parents and educators. Many positives can come out of the process. These evaluation checkpoints help adjust strategies as needed, ensuring that the student remains on the path to success. Just like the two dishwashers that leaked, you find the issue beneath the surface when you look deeper. Looking more carefully at students’ profiles of strengths and weaknesses will help make decisions about strategies to help them succeed in the long term.