American schools Essay Example

American schools Essay Example American schools Essay American schools Essay American schools operate on two systems of assessment internal and external. A number of studies on the benefits of these have been carried out which generally indicate that external system when over emphasized can reduce the opportunities to learn while internal system when systematically delivered can provide better learning and improve teaching. Portfolio based systems on the whole provide ownership for the student and support the teacher in teaching students to achieve learning goals and develop interests. The article relates to a study which was carried out in alternative assessment system in Charles Ruff Middle School in Northern California. There were primarily two groups, one was based on an alternative assessment system and was issued with report card grades which were given by the external examination committee of local English teachers, while the second group was with customary assessment where grades were determined by individual classroom teachers. The study used a rigorous methodology including quantitative and qualitative assessments based on the grounded theory method of ethnographic research. Data was analyzed using three mixed model analysis of variance with dependent variables measured repeatedly. The qualitative and quantitative findings were matching. The results have indicated that in reading achievement, the alternative assessment was more favorable while in writing achievement there was no significant difference. The key variation was seen in levels of learning goal orientation in which students of alternative assessment scored higher while no differences were seen on scales in measuring advancement and goal approvals. The impact of portfolio based teaching on reading and motivation was the major aspect which has provided the critical difference of this system of assessment. Since grades were important, caring about grades rather than portfolios was never a problem and students appeared to harmonize both. However the school despite considerable advancement shown in implementation of portfolio system did not utilize it fully due to lack of adequate conviction amongst the teaching staff and resources.