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Educare

Educare

FEBRERO 2009 N° 2 Volumen 7

Assessing learning in Nursing studies

Section: LEARNING TO TEACH

Authors

Juan Videla Alfaro

Position

Profesor de Biología. Licenciado en Enfermería. Magíster en Educación Superior. Docente de la Escuela de Salud AIEP-UA.

Contact address

C/ Triana, 820 Providencia-Santiago, Chile.

Contact email: videla.j@gmail.com

Abstract

The term “assessment” is a term used principally when reference is made to the educational process. Within this context the word “assessment” is associated with “performance”. In addition, assessment must be used as the tool to improve teaching performance, mainly the way in which teaching is delivered in reality, which will in the future become the basis upon which the students as well as the educators will base their decisions.
In this respect, assessment is regarded as a contribution at the service of the teaching/learning process. This process needs to be followed up in order for it to be improved upon, redirected, and adapted to the needs of the students. It could be said that assessment plays an inherent eminently educational or formative goal in the teaching/learning process.
The question then arises as to how we can stop the student from feeling the fear associated to assessment and how we can change this threat into a stimulating feeling? In allied and health sciences, assessment must make a contribution towards the comprehensive training of the personality of the future professionals by promoting their scientific and technical capabilities, self-sufficiency and independence as well as their humanisation traits for the correct performance of their professional duties. This shows that formative assessment must start with a clear knowledge of the objectives to be attained in the formative period and the permanent updated for knowledge. This brings about the realisation of how important it is for the student to participate in his or her own assessment process or in the group’s assessment, making it an evaluation strategy with clear motivational tinges in order to acquire solid knowledge and to raise the responsibility that this professional has towards society.

Keywords:

nursing; assessmentlearning

Versión en Español

Título:

Evaluación de los aprendizajes en los estudios de Enfermería