Strengthening Formative Assessment in affiliated Schools under Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation.

After the introduction of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation in the schools affiliated to CBSE, Formative Assessment has come to occupy the centre stage in the classroom transaction of curriculum. Though not a new concept in educational dynamics, formative assessment has, till now, been perceived more as a complement of summative evaluation than as an integral part of pedagogy that aims to enhance learning. It is also to be conceded that as frontal teaching ruled the classroom, formative assessment tasks continued to be only cursorily attempted, if at all at that. Consequently, most of the practices in this field have aimed at measuring the achievement of students instead of facilitating a process of better and more complete learning. Further, formative assessment, to fulfil its purpose, has to be carried out as part of the teaching-learning process by using a wide range of tools and techniques. Besides contributing to effective learning, variety in classroom practices makes the process of learning more joyful and interesting.

In a sense CCE can also be perceived as Child Centred Education because it lays emphasis on catering to multiple intelligence and individual talent. Another significant aspect of CCE in general and Formative Assessment in particular is that the teacher and the learner have to make use of the data generated by various tools and techniques that are employed in the classroom for improving the teaching-learning process. The teacher’s Manual on Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation, brought out by the CBSE Board provides detailed information to teachers on the salient features of CCE including formative assessment. The extensive training workshops conducted by the CBSE Board have, the CBSE Board fervently hopes, created awareness and conceptual clarity about CCE.

As a follow up, the CBSE Board is bringing out a series of Teacher’s Manuals on Formative Assessment in Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science for class IX and X. The main objective of this endeavour is to place illustrative examples of formative assessment tasks in the hands of teachers so that they are encouraged,

besides using the materials provided, to build their capacity for preparing their own materials to add value to curriculum delivery. Practical guidelines for integrating the formative assessment tasks and activities included in the manual will help teachers in using them at the appropriate stages of curriculum delivery.

The Manuals have been prepared keeping the curriculum objectives of the respective subjects in mind. Thus, being curriculum specific, the content has been so organized that teachers will find it convenient to select activities and tasks according to their and students’ needs. By using the manuals effectively, teachers would be able to breathe life into their classrooms. Learner involvement, dynamic and lively interaction and creative engagement would become integral features of the teachinglearning process, helping the teacher and the learner move away from routine and often dull text-book based activities.

A variety of tasks and activities have been included in the manuals and in the hands of an imaginative teacher, they will address the varied talents and needs of learners, facilitating inclusive development. Problem solving, critical thinking, creativity and other higher order skills have been harmoniously integrated with the aim of not only enhancing thinking skills but also to make the activities and tasks adequately challenging to learners. Teachers will do well to plan, prepare and conduct the various activities for each of their lessons, without being satisfied with a mechanical approach that characterizes curriculum transaction carried out in the frontal teaching mode. If used in its true sprit, formative assessment as a part of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation will, on the one hand introduce the much needed child-centredress in the classroom and promote motivation among learners on the other to utilise their innate abilities and skills for better, more comprehensive and deeper learning.

At the first phase the CBSE Board is bringing out the Manuals in English Communicative, English Language and Literature, Hindi course A and B for class IX. They are also available on the CBSE Website (www.cbse.nic.in). The manuals in the book form will be available as priced documents in the stores of CBSE, 17, Rouse Avenue New Delhi – 110002 as well as in the Regional Offices of the CBSE Board. Manuals in other subjects for class IX and in all the major subjects for class X will shortly be available. There is no gainsaying the fact that Formative Assessment is all set to revolutionize the teaching-learning process in the schools of our country.