Learning Statement

The Center investigates the use of formative assessments to monitor student progress and adjust instruction accordingly. These assessments are designed to detail the areas of strengths and weaknesses of the leaner, are continually applied, and forward looking, used to guide the next learning path.  

To ensure effective learning, it is important to assess a learner’s readiness when designing and delivering educational and training programs. Enter readiness assessments, which are used to measure an individual's or organization's preparedness for a specific task or situation. They can measure a wide range of knowledge, skills, and abilities (e.g., cognitive abilities, physical fitness, technical proficiency) and are used in a variety of settings including education, military, and emergency management. In academic and training settings, they are primarily used to determine a student’s level of preparedness for learning new information or skills, as well as to identify what a learner already knows and what they need to learn to be successful in a particular subject or grade level. They can also be used to 1). Provide feedback on the learner’s conceptual understanding (e.g., a learner’s understanding of a concept within an instructional module could include assessment assignments where the learner’s conceptual understanding is verified), and 2). Provide feedback to automate individualized instruction. Once a learner's conceptual understanding is verified, this in turn can be used to automate how a Learning Management System, for example, then delivers the next set of (personalized/individualized) instructional material.