Games for Assessment: Sierra Rafail

 As someone with test anxiety, I chose to use games for assessment. Using games for assessment is a good way to see what students know without always having to give them a test. Students can have fun while playing, but the teacher can still see how they are thinking and what they understand. I like the idea of paying attention to the choices students make during a game because it can show what they are struggling with or what they already know. I could see myself using games in my future classroom to review material, check for understanding, and easily gather class data on what students still need help with. While students are playing, I could walk around and ask them questions about why they made certain choices. I could also have them explain their strategy or keep track of their moves. After the game, students could even make their own game or explain the rules and strategies to someone else. This would help them learn the material without even realizing that they are. Students (especially in elementary grades) love games, competition, and anything that will make learning more interesting. Using games as an assessment is a fun way to evaluate students because it feels less stressful than a normal test, while still giving the teacher a good idea of what students know and what they need more clarification on.