Using Self Assessment As Feedback
Self-assessment is the ultimate goal in self-regulation and metacognitive processes. By evaluating their own work, students take ownership of their learning journey. This article outlines the essential considerations for teaching this skill and how to facilitate it in SpacesEDU.
Before You Start
- Self-assessment is a skill that needs to be explicitly taught and modeled by the teacher.
- Students must have a clear understanding of the learning objectives before they can accurately assess their own progress.
Essential Considerations for Self-Assessment
To help students reach autonomy with self-assessment, ensure the following elements are in place:
Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
Taught Objectives | The specific learning goals must be clearly communicated and understood. |
Exemplars | Provide examples of high-quality work so students have a benchmark for comparison. |
Feedback Prompts | Offer specific prompts or questions to guide the student's reflection. |
Actionable Next Steps | Outline clear paths for further improvement based on the self-assessment. |
Reflection Time | Dedicate specific time in the schedule for students to reflect on and revise their work. |
Self-Assessment in SpacesEDU
SpacesEDU provides different environments for self-assessment depending on the desired level of visibility and collaboration.
Environment | Application |
|---|---|
Class or Group Spaces | Use these for visible reflection and revisions where students can learn from each other's self-assessment processes. |
1:1 Spaces | Ideal for private reflection and revision between the student and the teacher. |
Students can use text, audio, or video to record their self-assessments, providing a rich history of their growth over time.
Good to Know
- Metacognition: Self-assessment encourages students to think about their own thinking, a key component of long-term academic success. This concept is explored in Feedback: The Communication of Praise, Criticism, and Advice by Sutton, Hornsey, and Douglas.
- Visibility Settings: The visibility of self-assessment is controlled by your Space settings. For more details, see How can I update Space settings?.
- Ongoing Process: Self-assessment is most effective when it is an ongoing part of the learning cycle rather than a one-time event.
Updated on: 06/08/2026
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