Assessments in Counseling

When it comes to assessment counselors need to know a great deal. They need to know how to interpret tests for consulting purposes.

Why do we test? Because of accountability, classification and entitlement. Monitoring progress, and to understand student identification of issues.

Testing Vs. Assessment? Standard Procedures and Environmental Assessment.

The four Pillars of Assessment are:

1. Interview- is appearance, behavior, non-verbal, speech and communication, content thought, cognitive function, emotional functioning, insight and judgment. Interviews give counselors the opportunity to learn the truth with no perceptions or interpretations.
2. Observation- is behavioral assessment in school setting, home and how one interacts with others. Look for triggers, coping responses, and describe clearly what observations have been made.
3. Informal Assessments- is work samples used to compare a student to himself. Memory sampling, and the ability to learn concepts and shows the potential to learn new materials. This type of assessment is curriculum based.
4. Norm Referenced Testing- is the standardized tests, to compare scores to other students in the country to each other. It determines the child's level of functioning or progress for the appropriate age level.

When considering the necessary decisions that are made in schools and how test results influence those decisions one should look at research done in this area and after extensive research on will discover that testing serves a purpose. Educators don't just test students just to test them. The assessment supports important student learning. For instance all states have certain standards in reading, math, writing, science and social studies. A variety of tests are given in these areas, which determines the level of performance in which a student is functioning. Tests also reveal areas of weakness, which a student may possess. Assessments give educators a basis for what a student already knows and indicates to them what they will need to teach their students. Generally at the beginning of each year the teacher administers assessment in the form of a pretest. Then at the end of the year a posttest is given that reports a level of achievement and retention. Tests detect special needs in which a child may require.

When taking into account alternatives to testing, personally I feel that testing is important and I would not want an alternative. However, I believe that sometimes a higher value is placed upon testing than those of making positive that a student really does understand and can apply the knowledge that he encompasses.

Not all school decisions are objective. Test results do not always affect objectivity. Educators need to look at the student as an individual and not as a test score. Students can obtain qualities that cannot be measured by tests. In some instances a student can demonstrate knowledge by actions, yet not be able to pass tests on that same material.

For example some students have little trouble with answering essay types of questions where others struggle to answer them correctly. Also educators need to take into account students who do not speak English. If we really want to get an accurate idea about what a child knows then the test really needs to be administered in a language that the student can understand.

When it comes to counseling, testing can be used in several different situations. Counselors use assessments in career counseling and interest surveys. Counselors are in direct contact with students to encourage career development as a lifelong process and counselors are involved to assist in making many important career and academic decisions. Counselors are also primarily in charge of making certain that students take college entrance exams such as the ACT and SAT. Counselors can also conduct assessments in social and emotional values, so that students may distinguish their progress in these areas.